A 13-year-old student is in custody after police say he shot special education teacher Kelly Matthews outside Highland Middle School in Hobbs, New Mexico.
Story Snapshot
- Police say a 13-year-old student shot teacher Kelly Matthews outside the school.
- Officers found Matthews with gunshot wounds and rushed him to the hospital; he remains in critical condition.
- Police arrested the juvenile a short distance from campus minutes after the attack.
- Officials say no students were hurt and there was no ongoing threat after the arrest.
Police say the attack happened between classes and ended quickly
Hobbs Police said officers arrived around midday after reports of violence at Highland Middle School. Responders found special education teacher Kelly Matthews outside near the back doors with gunshot wounds.
Interim Chief James Jones said the suspect, a 13-year-old student, had moved through the rear of the building between classes and encountered the teacher near a corner.
Police said the juvenile opened fire right away. Medics stabilized Matthews and transferred him to a hospital in Lubbock, where he remains in critical condition.
Officials said the first call to police mentioned a stabbing, which then shifted to a possible shooting as details came in. That change created early confusion but tracked with how chaotic scenes evolve under stress.
Dispatch sent multiple units, and the school moved to secure buildings while officers swept the grounds. Police said no students were hit, and nearby Coronado Elementary was also secured as a precaution. District leaders echoed that there was no active threat after the arrest.
Officers chased and arrested the 13-year-old nearby
Police said the suspect ran from the campus after the shots. Officers chased him and took him into custody a few blocks away. He was described as a current Highland Middle School student, age 13. Authorities did not release his name due to juvenile protections.
The Albuquerque Journal reported that officers found him within minutes and arrested him without further injuries. Police said the investigation is active and did not share a motive at this time.
Hobbs Police and school officials stressed that staff moved fast to care for the victim and protect students. First aid began at the scene while medics were en route. The district coordinated student release with police once the grounds were secure.
Reports from multiple local outlets said Matthews was first treated in Hobbs and then airlifted to Lubbock for higher-level trauma care. Some descriptions varied between “critical” and “critical but stable,” which often reflects updates during intensive care.
What this incident fits in the broader pattern
This case aligns with what federal reviews have found about many school shootings. Most start with a dispute or a targeted grievance rather than a plan to harm many people.
The United States Government Accountability Office analysis of school shootings points to conflicts between students or staff as common triggers.
This event, occurring outside between classes and focused on a single staff member, matches that profile more than the rare mass attack that dominates headlines.
A 13-year-old boy is in custody after allegedly shooting and seriously wounding a teacher at his New Mexico middle school, authorities said. https://t.co/PDMOy8K0Rt
— ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2026
National data show the number of school shootings rose in recent years, then saw some decline in 2025, though levels remain higher than a decade ago. The K-12 School Shooting Database reported 233 incidents in 2025, down from recent peaks but still far above early 2020 levels.
This does not make any one campus likely to face gunfire, but it shows the risk has stayed stubborn across the country. Communities like Hobbs now drill for the fast, uneven minutes that decide outcomes.
Accountability, privacy, and prevention
Juvenile cases create a hard line between the public’s right to know and a child’s legal protections. Federal guidance restricts naming minors in delinquency matters unless specific conditions are met. That is why officials have not identified the suspect.
The law aims to protect a juvenile’s chance for rehabilitation while the courts weigh charges. That shield can feel thin for the public, but it reflects a long-standing balance in American justice.
Parents want two things at once: firm accountability and real prevention. Both start with facts. Police accounts say staff secured doors, officers moved fast, and medics acted quickly. That response likely saved a life.
The next step is sober, local work: assess discipline records, threat reports, and access to weapons; set clear consequences; and support kids before grievances harden into violence.
What to watch next
Authorities will decide charges in juvenile court and may later seek transfer to adult court, depending on state law and the facts. Investigators will review camera footage, witness statements, and the weapon’s path. The district will revisit security at transition times, especially at exterior doors.
Families should expect more police presence and counseling resources on campus in the short term. Officials have not released a motive. That detail often arrives last and matters less than fixing what we can control now.
Sources:
abcnews.com, kcbd.com, kvia.com, newswest9.com, kob.com, people.com, abqjournal.com, k12dive.com
