According to New Mexico officials, a 21-year-old man shot his stepmother when she approached him for a hug during his charter school graduation ceremony. The suspect, Cristian Bencomo, was apprehended and booked following the encounter. The incident occurred at the Albuquerque Convention Center, and officers responded to reports of gunfire, reports The Sacramento Bee.
Initially, officers believed they were dealing with an active shooter situation, but it turned out that only one shot was fired. The investigation revealed that Bencomo shot his stepmother in the neck during a hug. A witness, Mary Ward, described the graduation ceremony as lovely until the tragic incident occurred.
Ward said,
“I was watching my student, she was coming to the right of me, then I looked to the left, to the other side, there was a crowd of people and then there was a big pop.”
During the charter school graduation, there were over 100 people present when the incident occurred. Luckily, bystanders managed to detain Bencomo until the officials arrived. The woman, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, underwent extensive surgery and will require ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation.
The student faces several charges including aggravated assault and battery. The investigation is ongoing, per reports.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
