New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas confirmed during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that a 12-year-old male student opened at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell, NM on Tuesday morning and injured two students.
The unidentified minor used a shotgun to shoot the injured students in the gymnasium of the middle school before school started, around 7:30am.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said a staff member at the school "walked right up to him and asked him to put down the firearm,” CNN reports.
The 13 year-old girl and 11-year-old boy who were injured in the tragic incident both underwent surgery to care for their serious gunshot wounds immediately afterwards.
According to CBS News, police officials are in “direct contact” with the shooter’s parents and they carried out hours of interviews at the school to try and understand a possible motive.
Prayer services were held at the nearby Calvary Baptist and First Baptist churches Tuesday night and school will be cancelled on Wednesday.