On July 25, a deadly shooting occurred at the University of New Mexico’s main campus within the Casas Del Rio dormitory complex. The shooting took place in a dorm room and resulted in the death of 14-year-old Michael Lamotte and the injury of 19-year-old Daniel Archuleta.
After an hours-long manhunt, New Mexico State Police apprehended the suspect, 18-year-old John Fuentes. As of Sunday, Sept. 7, Fuentes, who has been charged with murder in the first degree, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence, is in the Bernalillo County Jail awaiting trial.
On Aug. 29, UNM released 255 audio files of calls involving the UNM Police Department on the day of the shooting and a 34-page police report to the Daily Lobo.
Before the shooting, a group of four people, Fuentes, Archuleta, Lamotte and a witness, were playing video games in the dorm room, when "out of nowhere,” Fuentes pulled out a handgun and began shooting, according to the witness's statement given to UNMPD. The witness told UNMPD that Fuentes appeared to be on drugs before the incident occurred, according to police reports. After the shooting began, the witness and Archuleta escaped through the dorm room window before making their way to UNM Hospital.
At 12:13 a.m., UNMPD received a call reporting a suspect matching Fuentes’ description in A-Lot, outside of the Casas Del Rio dormitory. The call reports an individual brandishing a gun on campus, who removes the magazine, throws it on the ground, does a backflip, picks up the magazine and runs north toward the Student Residence Center Apartments, according to police reports.
Four minutes later, UNMPD responded to the call, unable to contact the suspect or the reporting caller. A few minutes later, the responding officers found students who said the suspect was on the nearby volleyball courts. At this time, the Albuquerque Police Department received a ShotSpotter — a type of gunshot detection technology — call near Casas Del Rio and advised UNMPD.
After the reporting officers cleared the call and returned to their normal patrolling duties at 12:33 a.m., they called UNMPD Lt. Guevara to see if a LoboAlert should be issued to the campus community; it was decided that the event did not necessitate an alert being sent at the time, according to police reports.
At approximately 1:20 a.m., Fuentes’ mother reported to UNMPD that Fuentes was on the roof of the Collaborative Teaching and Learning Building, after learning of her son’s whereabouts during a FaceTime call. Officers were then dispatched to that location.
At 1:37 a.m., UNMPD reported that Fuentes had traveled to Mesa Vista Hall after following a trail of blood and three broken windows.
Three minutes later, UNMPD told Fuentes’ mother that they’d located her son on the roof of Mesa Vista Hall.
At 1:41 a.m., Fuentes was picked up in a truck at the Zimmerman parking lot — information that would be later revealed to officers through an investigation — according to security camera footage mentioned within the police reports.
Five minutes later, UNMPD dispatch advised officers of shots fired at Casas Del Rio after a call from Lamotte’s mother, who said that her son had called her about shots being fired. It’s unclear when the call between Lamotte and his mother took place and when Lamotte’s mother informed UNMPD of the shooting.
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At 2:12 a.m., UNMPD received a call from Lamotte’s mother asking if officers had checked the dorm room — which they hadn’t — and if she could go look for her son by herself.
After multiple follow-up calls from Lamotte’s mother to UNMPD seeking officer assistance, officers met her at the dorm room where the shooting took place, 24 minutes after she had arrived at the dorm at 2:38 a.m.
Thirty-six minutes later, officers would breach the dorm room through a window after failed attempts to open the door, as officers sent the on-duty resident assistant to try and find a working key to unlock the door. Officers discovered the body of Lamotte as they entered the room.
At 3:29 a.m., the first LoboAlert was sent out to all members of the UNM community registered to the LoboAlert system.
“UNM police is investigating a shooting incident and is still gathering initial information. Police on scene. Please avoid the area until further notice,” the LoboAlert read.
From approximately 4 a.m. to 5 a.m., UNMPD dispatch made many calls to off-duty officers asking them to assist; only one officer responded. At 5:45 a.m., UNMPD detectives arrived at the scene and set up crime scene tape.
At 5:55 a.m., officers found a gun that had been reported stolen, as well as keys to Fuentes’ car, on top of the roof of Mesa Vista Hall. Fuentes’ car was later found in A-lot.
At 6:20 a.m., a second LoboAlert was sent out that reported two individuals had been shot, with one dead. The LoboAlert advised people to avoid campus or shelter in place and that the suspect was at large and may still be on campus. It was later discovered Fuentes had fled campus approximately four hours prior, according to police reports.
The shooting occurred during a New Student Orientation session, with a group of incoming students sheltering in Hokona Hall.
The University continued sending out LoboAlerts throughout the day, before it announced that it would begin conducting a “staged” and “tactical” evacuation of campus at approximately 1:01 p.m., the LoboAlert read.
Fuentes was taken into custody at around 2:30 p.m. by NMSP in Valencia County, off of Highway 314 in Los Lunas.
Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the manhunt. UNMPD was the organization that first responded to the reports and discovered the scene. APD, Albuquerque Fire Rescue, NMSP, Bernalillo County sheriffs, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and National Guard troops were all involved in the manhunt. The Albuquerque Police Department assisted with the containment of the crime scene and investigation, and the National Guard helped APD with maintaining the condition of the crime scene, APD Deputy Chief of Police Cecily Barker said during the press conference.
On the afternoon of the shooting, UNM President Garnett Stokes released a statement that provided links to mental health care resources and counseling services for students and community members, including the UNM Student Health & Counseling Services and TimelyCare, and for faculty and staff through Counseling, Assistance & Referral Services.
“Even in the face of horror and sadness, the Lobo community remains united and as strong as ever. We will continue to care for each other, to lean on one another, and work tirelessly to ensure our campus remains a safe and caring community for all,” Stokes’ statement read.
Nate Bernard is the managing editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at managing@dailylobo.com or on X @natebernard14
Jaden McKelvey-Francis is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at editorinchief@dailylobo.com or on X @jadenmckelvey
Nate Bernard is the managing editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @natebernard14
