At least one person is dead and another is injured after a shooting July 25 at a student housing complex at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, the university said.
The shooting at the Casas del Rio housing complex began in the early morning, according to university president Garnett S. Stokes. The person wounded in the shooting is being treated at a local hospital. The shooter remained at large as of 2 p.m. local time, according to authorities.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and horrified by this act of violence in our campus community,” Stokes said in a statement. “This is certainly a difficult moment, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, angry, or afraid.
University officials began a “staged, tactical evacuation” of students and personnel on campus at roughly 1 p.m. local time, after warning those on campus to shelter in place for more than five hours. The university indefinitely closed its central campus during the investigation.
State and local law enforcement agencies were on the scene investigating, according to the university president.
The shooting came when about 400 students were on campus for a new student orientation, said university communications director Steve Carr. They were staying in campus dormitories.
Stokes lamented what impact the shooting might have on the new students’ start at the university.
“We understand this incident may be especially distressing for new students and their families,” said Stokes. “We want to assure everyone that we are fully committed to your safety and well-being.”
Stokes said orientation activities will continue with additional support.
The University’s medical school was also set to host a “White Coat Ceremony,” a rite of passage for incoming medical students, at 9 a.m. July 25. A ticketing site showed the festivities have been canceled.
During the school year, about 23,000 students attend the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
The July 25 shooting comes less than three years after another fatal attack at a University of New Mexico housing building left one student dead and three campus visitors injured.
The November 2022 shooting broke out after students attempted to lure a New Mexico State University basketball player to campus and attempted to assault him, according to local media outlets. Two men were sentenced for their roles in the shooting in June 2024, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported.
(This is a developing story and will be updated.)