Witnesses report gunman on campus

UNM Police officers responded to a report of a gunman near the Communication and Journalism building shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday.

Witnesses told officers they saw a man pointing a wrapped gun at the back of a young boy’s head while holding the back of his neck. Four UNMPD officers responded at 5:01 p.m. and — guns drawn — circled the C&J Building and Sara Reynolds Hall on foot before returning to their vehicles.

Classes remained in session and no emergency alerts — like those sent out after the Feb. 15 student stabbing — were broadcast.

UNMPD Spokesman Robert Haarhues said witnesses initially reported seeing a gun and what appeared to be a hostage situation.

“We didn’t find anything, and then they kind of recanted. They didn’t know if it was a gun; they only saw something silver,” he said. “We don’t even know what happened.”
Haarhues said it’s possible the boy was just having a tantrum and was being scolded by a parent or guardian.

However, a witness, who preferred to remain anonymous until the gunman is caught, said the suspect and the boy walked within three feet of her. She said the boy was not having a tantrum, because he wasn’t trying to get away.

Also, she said the boy was wearing a cloth or some other material over his face, which she interpreted as a sign that he was under duress.
Haarhues confirmed that the anonymous witness shared a similar story with UNMPD officers.

The witness said she and several other people in the vicinity called 9-1-1 after seeing the man.

Student Chris Feely said a different woman ran into a classroom and asked students to call UNMPD.

“This lady came in and she was like, ‘There’s a man out there with a gun and a mask on his face pointing (the gun) at some little boy’s head,’” Feely said. “Everybody in the class just started busting out their phones and calling everybody. I walked out there, but I didn’t see anything.”

Haarhues said UNMPD alerted the Albuquerque Police Department, as the man and the boy were reported to have gone off campus.

Nadine Hamby, APD spokeswoman, said no APD officers were sent to the scene after they
received the alert.