Teen Charged in Shooting Death of 14-Year-Old on UNM Campus

Albuquerque –

On July 25, 2025, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was requested by UNM to investigate a shooting at Mesa Vista Hall at the University of New Mexico Campus in Albuquerque, NM.

At approximately 1:36 a.m., UNM PD officers responded to an alarm call at Mesa Vista Hall. Upon arrival, officers observed broken windows and suspected blood.

PATREON MEMBERS CAN READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/unm-shooting-134986135

UNM PD officers later received a phone call from a woman who reported that she had a family member on campus who had heard the gun shots.

UNM PD officers then received another phone call from UNMH that a 19-year-old male came in with a gunshot wound and he stated that he had been shot on the UNM campus.

As UNM officers were conducting a security sweep of the surrounding buildings, they made entry and located a deceased 14-year-old male inside one of the dorm rooms.

Investigators believed this to be an isolated incident but in an abundance of caution, a shelter in place was issued by UNM PD to preserve any evidence.

NMSP investigators were notified and later arrived on scene to take over the investigation. The initial investigation has determined that the incident involved four individuals who were hanging out in a dorm room in the Casas Del Rio complex playing video games.

According to the criminal complaint, at some point, for reasons still being investigated, the suspect began shooting a firearm at the other occupants in the room. The 14-year-old victim, Michael Lamotte, was fatally shot and one other teen was shot in the head but survived. All of the surviving occupants, along with the suspect, then fled the room.

The shooting suspect was quickly identified as John Fuentes (18). At around 2:30 p.m. Fuentes was located and arrested by NMSP in Valencia County, NM without incident.

We were on scene in Los Lunas on NM 314 when New Mexico State Police swooped in at a smoke shop and apprehended Fuentes. There was also an older woman in the car who was detained and released.

Fuentes was arrested and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on the charges of:

• Murder in the first degree

• Aggravated battery

• Aggravated assault

• Tampering with evidence

State Police said they are still investigating this and more charges could come for people who helped Fuentes.