APS Issues Letter After Gun Found on Atrisco Heritage Academy Campus

Albuquerque –

On October 8th, 2024, parents and guardians of students that attend Atrisco Heritage were given a letter from APS informing them that a gun was found on campus. A portion of the letter, which we received from a concerned parent, goes on to state:

Dear Atrisco Heritage Academy Families,

I’m writing to address a highly concerning incident that unfolded on our campus today. It is with great disappointment that I inform you that we were advised of the suspicion of a gun on our campus. We responded to the report immediately and came in contact with the student who was able to confirm that there was a gun in a vehicle parked on our campus. Law enforcement took over from there.

The student involved did not express any intentions of harming himself or others. Nevertheless, the fact that this firearm was brought onto campus is unacceptable.

Let me be clear: Possessing any weapon, particularly a gun, within the confines of our school premises is an egregious violation of our rules. As a consequence, the student responsible for bringing the gun onto campus will face disciplinary measures, up to and including expulsion and prosecution.

I am grateful to the individual who reached out to alert us to the firearm in the student’s vehicle.

I also want to acknowledge the swift response and efforts made by the Albuquerque Public Schools Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and my administration team responding to this incident. Their prompt action helped mitigate the immediate threat.

It is imperative that all members of our community remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. Every reported threat, no matter how seemingly insignificant, will be treated with utmost seriousness. We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Rest assured that we will take all necessary measures to maintain a secure environment within our school.

Should you have any concerns or questions, I urge you to contact me directly at (number given). It is crucial that we work together to address these issues.

We are committed to the safety and success of our students and staff. Together, we can overcome these challenges and ensure a secure environment for everyone within our school community.

Sincerely,

Principal Lovato,

Arisco Heritage Academy High School

We do not know if BCSO took anyone into custody.

Possessing a firearm on campus, even if it is in a vehicle is illegal. Under the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act, firearms are prohibited in a school zone, which means in or on the grounds of a public, parochial or private school; or within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of a public, parochial or private school. Whoever commits unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises can be charged with a fourth degree felony.

We contacted APS for a comment, but we didn’t hear about the incident until just after 4:00 PM. Since it was late in the day and close to their closing time, they weren’t able to respond.

After business hours, we reached out to the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office for comment and to see if they knew anything about the situation. They said they would get back to us tomorrow.

Firearms Found on High School Campuses Across ABQ

In recent weeks, several firearms have been found or reported on school campuses.

A 17-year-old student was arrested on September 17, 2024, after a loaded firearm and additional ammunition were discovered in their backpack. In this case, a shotgun was recovered from the student’s vehicle. It was not disclosed whether the gun was loaded. In this incident, it was revealed that the handgun was loaded with 15 bullets, and an 16 additional bullets were discovered in a separate bag.

On September 23, 2024, we reported that multiple firearms were found on the ACE Leadership High School campus. While the school initially informed parents that both firearms were unloaded, this contradicted other reports ABQ RAW had heard, which was one male student was found with a 9mm handgun and ammunition in a bag. The other student, whose gender is not specified, had a .40 caliber handgun, with .40 caliber ammunition and a loaded magazine in their bag. In Volcano Vista case, one student is reported to be 17 years old, while the other is 16 years old.

On the morning of October 1, 2024, Sandia High School went into lockdown after two boys allegedly attempted to load a gun in the bathroom. According to a letter sent to APS parents, only a bullet was found in a bathroom at the high school. However, this contradicts the account of a parent who was at the scene. Comments on the story also indicate that other students witnessed two male students handling a firearm and attempting to load it. The students dropped bullets in the bathroom, and the firearm was reportedly discarded somewhere on campus. According to what we observed on scene, an employee from Christ Lutheran School was searching the area near their school for a possible firearm. He went and up the street and did not find anything.

Other Recent Incidents at Atricso Heritage High School

Over the last thirteen months, Atrisco Heritage High School has had a number of incidents involving firearms, and another event that garnered national attention, resulting in the principal’s dismissal.

On September 8, 2023, two sixteen-year-olds were charged with having firearms on school property. According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found guns in their trunks.

Then on the night of December 8, 2023, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office was called to respond to a reported shooting at Atrisco Heritage High School, situated at 10800 Dennis Chavez Blvd SW. BCSO’s homicide unit was reportedly called out at approximately 9:42 PM. The victim, 16-year-old Elijah Pohl-Morfin, died from gunshot wounds.

According to BCSO, the Albuquerque Public Schools Police were the first to respond to the incident at Atrisco Heritage. However, given the nature of the event and its tragic outcome, the investigation was subsequently transferred to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.

This fatal shooting is the same incident we reported to you on December 8th as it was unfolding, in which a 16-year-old was taken to a local hospital and subsequently died from his injuries. One of the individuals who dropped off the wounded teenager at the hospital was reportedly tracked to the Route 66 Diner, where he was observed changing clothes and disposing of evidence. Crime scene investigators allegedly found a bloody sweatshirt at the diner.

At a press conference later on September 9th, it was learned that both the 16-year-old victim, Elijah Pohl-Morfin, and the 16-year-old suspect, Adrian Martinez, who was taken into custody, were 11th graders at Atrisco Heritage High School. According to APS, both were also football players.

APS issued a statement regarding this shooting and Elijah’s death on their website. You can read it here: https://www.aps.edu/news/news-from-2023-2024/letter-to-atrisco-heritage-academy-families-on-friday-night-tragedy

On April 24, 2024, we reported on the Atrisco Heritage Academy High School Promgate 2024. Three administrators were reportedly placed on leave after a drag queen was allegedly hired to perform at the prom. It was later announced that the Principal of Atrisco Heritage was allegedly replaced as a result of the controversy.