The young shooter in the Roswell school shooting has been admitted to the psychiatric hospital in Albuquerque after a hearing that was held on Monday.
The shooter, confirmed by authorities to be only 12 years old, used a .20 gauge sawed-off shotgun to shoot two student in the gym of the Berrendo Middle School just before classtime on Tuesday. According to the school, students gathered in the gym before class to get indoors out of the elements. It is estimated that at least 500 people were in the gym at the time of the shootings.
Initial reports stated the victims were 14 and 13 yesterday, but new information reports the boy, Nathaniel Tavarez, initially thought to be 14, is an 11-year-old.
That boy, after going through two surgeries, is still listed in critical condition at a hospital in Lubbock, Texas. The young girl, Kendal Sanders age 13, is now listed in stable condition, according to New Mexico governor Susana Martinez.
During a news conference discussing the incident on Tuesday night, the New Mexico State Police Chief, Pete Kassetas told reporters that the pre-teen shooter may have warned some of the students not to attend school yesterday. But the chief did not elaborate on that statement. Another young witness told reporters that the shooter posted on social media on Sunday saying, “Tomorrow will be the first Monday that will be fun for me lol never thot I’d say that.” As it turned out, the school was closed on Monday because of plumbing problems.
After shooting the two young victims, the shooter shot one more time in the air, before a teacher at the school convinced him to place the weapon on the floor. After doing so, the teacher subdued him.
Police have executed search warrants on the young shooter’s school locker, the bag he brought to school and the boy’s home.
School was cancelled today as police continue to investigate at the scene.
No motive for the shooting has been released and investigators continue to interview students and faculty members.