Albuquerque mother speaks out 1 year after deadly Washington Middle School shooting

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Bennie Hargrove’s family and friends gathered at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque Saturday, exactly one year to the day the 13-year-old lost his life.

“He was very bright boy, he was so handsome and all his friends loved him and he was persistent if he wanted it he was going to get it,” said Collette Wise, Hargrove’s mother. 

Hargrove was shot and killed outside Washington Middle School after confronting another student for bullying his friend. Police say the suspect – Juan Saucedo Jr. – used his father’s gun.

“We are upset and we want changes for the rest of the students and families so they don’t have to go through this experience that we’re going through, because this hurts,” said Wise. 

Hargrove’s mother is now fighting for those changes in hopes of preventing another senseless tragedy, and another deadly shooting at one of the schools.

“I want change with the laws, with the gun laws, changes in our schools and how they’re protecting our students our kids. It starts with the school first, we need something to protect our kids,” said Wise. 

The city is planning to install a memorial bench and plant a tree in Hargrove’s honor at the park by the school.