ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A tragic shooting on the University of New Mexico (UNM) campus has claimed the life of 14-year-old Michael Lamotte, prompting a major investigation by the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) and resulting in multiple serious charges against an 18-year-old suspect.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Friday, July 25, 2025, at Mesa Vista Hall on the UNM campus in Albuquerque. At approximately 1:36 a.m., UNM Police responded to an alarm at the building, where they discovered broken windows and suspected blood.
Soon after, UNM PD received a call from a woman who reported that a family member on campus had heard gunshots. Minutes later, University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) notified officers that a 19-year-old male had arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound, stating he had been shot on campus.
During a security sweep of nearby buildings, police made a heartbreaking discovery: the body of Michael Lamotte, deceased inside a dorm room. Another teenager, also shot during the incident, was found to have survived a gunshot wound to the head.
According to the investigation, four individuals had gathered in a Casas Del Rio dorm room to hang out and play video games. For reasons still under investigation, one of them—later identified as John Fuentes, 18—allegedly opened fire on the others. Following the shooting, Fuentes and the surviving occupants fled the scene.
Later that day, around 2:30 p.m., Fuentes was located and arrested by State Police in Los Lunas, outside a smoke shop along NM 314. An older woman who was with him at the time was detained but later released.
Fuentes was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and now faces multiple charges, including:
- First-degree murder
- Aggravated battery
- Aggravated assault
- Tampering with evidence
State Police confirmed the investigation is ongoing and noted that additional charges may be filed against anyone found to have aided Fuentes.
UNM issued a shelter-in-place order following the shooting to secure the area and preserve evidence. Authorities stress that the incident appears to be isolated, but they continue to seek information from the public to support the investigation.
Michael Lamotte’s tragic death has shaken the campus and the wider community, leaving behind grief, unanswered questions, and a demand for justice.
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