Highland Middle School and nearby Coronado Elementary were secured following the incident.
Source: Hobbs Police Department (via Facebook)
Cover Photo Courtesy Hobbs Municipal Schools (via Facebook)
A Highland Middle School staff member was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds and a juvenile was taken into custody following a shooting outside the Hobbs school Friday.
No students were injured in the incident.
Hobbs Municipal Schools Superintendent Gene Strickland said Friday evening the staff member was stable and “in good spirits.”
According to Strickland, the juvenile attacked and shot the staff member while the employee was outside the school building. The Hobbs Police Department said its investigation remained ongoing Friday and did not provide information about a possible motive.
Police response and arrest
Officers were dispatched to Highland Middle School at approximately 11:39 a.m. Sept. 25. Police said the initial call was reported as a stabbing before being changed to a possible shooting.
Officers arrived approximately one minute later and worked with Hobbs Municipal Schools personnel to secure the buildings and ensure students were safe.
Highland Middle School and nearby Coronado Elementary were secured following the incident.
Police said the adult victim had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported by Hobbs EMS to Covenant Health Hospital in Hobbs.
After receiving a description of a possible suspect, officers from the Hobbs Police Department, Lea County Sheriff’s Department, New Mexico State Police and Lea County Drug Task Force searched the area surrounding the school.
Officers located a juvenile male matching the description and took him into custody following a short foot pursuit, according to police.
Strickland subsequently identified the victim as a school staff member and said the juvenile involved had been arrested.
Because the law enforcement investigation involves a juvenile, the school district said it would not release additional details.
School community responds
Strickland said appropriate safety protocols were followed during the incident and the district would continue working with law enforcement as the investigation proceeds.
“Any incident involving one of our staff members is difficult for our school family,” Strickland said.
The district said its immediate focus was supporting the injured employee as well as Highland Middle School students and staff following the shooting.
Incident postpones Hobbs football game
The shooting also had an unexpected connection to Las Cruces.
Organ Mountain High School’s varsity football team was in Hobbs Friday for a scheduled 7 p.m. game when Las Cruces Public Schools announced that the game would be postponed because of the incident at Highland Middle School.
“Organ Mountain High School students and staff are safe,” LCPS told families. The district said accommodations would be provided for Organ Mountain athletes Friday night.
The Knights will instead play Hobbs at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Watson Memorial Stadium.
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