Middle school shooting thwarted
Posted at: 09/21/2012 5:39 PM
| Updated at: 09/21/2012 6:42 PM
By: Adam Camp, KOB Eyewitness News 4
Albuquerque Public Schools reported Friday it uncovered a school-shooting plot at Tony Hillerman Middle School.
They said the plot was uncovered on Wednesday, but the plan was to be played out several months in the future.
Someone from the school reported to a school administrator Wednesday that a boy talked about committing suicide. And when he was interviewed by school authorities another student was implicated and a larger plan unfoiled.
An school resource officer responded to the school and listened to a confession by two 12-year-old boys about what they planned.
The school District said the two boys admitted to planning a school shooting on December 12 during 3rd period. The boys also said they would kill themselves after the shooting.
The District brought in a school psychologist to analyze the two boys Wednesday. The psychologist found both boys had a high potential for violence.
"It's disturbing," District spokesperson Monica Armenta said. "It's something you hope you never have to deal with, but that always is secondary with you having to deal immediately with this student safety threat."
The two boys were suspended for 10 days for now, but it could be longer.
The District is requesting that the students be expelled, which would mean they would not be able to attend public school anywhere in state for at least a year.
The boys representatives and the District will go before a District hearing officer, who will decide the fate of the boys.
The District said they have no reason to believe any other students or schools are involved in the investigation, and it sent out letters Friday to parents with students at the middle school.
When parents were asked about the situation, they could not believe two young students could consider something so violent.
"I mean it's awful. I mean at their age, they should be thinking more of sports, about fun stuff, not taking their lives, not threatening other students," Lorraine Silva said.
"I can't imagine a 12-year-old even making a plan like that. I mean, I have a 12-year-old, there has to be other things going on in that household or family or something," Daina Martiny said.
Both parents said they are concerned the middle school is not providing enough counseling services for students.
"That they need to provide a lot more...counselors, something, a one-on-one on students. I have no idea, but it's gotten pretty bad," Silva said.
"Somebody's got to teach them some kind of coping mechanism, other than hurting each other," Martiny said. B
But the District said there are plenty of counseling services for students at all schools District-wide, and said they will focus on the students involved in the plot to provide them help.
"In addition to the discipline, they are getting counseling and mental services. We're also concerned for them," Monica Armenta said.
The District is also forwarding their reports to the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office to determine if any criminal charges should be filed.
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