Teacher Gunned Down By 13-Year-Old

Hand holding a semi-automatic pistol pointed forward — Photo: sergey kolesnikov / Shutterstock

A 13-year-old student is in custody after a teacher was shot outside Highland Middle School in Hobbs.

Story Snapshot

Police say a 13-year-old student shot teacher Kelly Matthews outside the school.
Officers arrived around late morning, found Matthews wounded, and chased down the suspect nearby.
Matthews was moved to a Lubbock hospital and remains in critical condition, officials said.
No other students were hurt, and police said there was no ongoing threat after the arrest.

Police say the attack happened between classes, then the suspect fled

Hobbs police reported that officers were sent to Highland Middle School late morning after multiple calls came in. Some early calls said stabbing. Others said shooting. Responding officers found special education teacher Kelly Matthews outside the back doors with gunshot wounds.

Interim Chief James Jones said the student left class between periods, reached the rear of the building, crossed paths with Matthews, and opened fire at once.

Police said the shooter was a 13-year-old male who attends Highland Middle School. Officers and school staff secured the campus and a nearby elementary school. Police chased the suspect and made the arrest a short distance from the scene.

Officials said no other students were injured, and there was no active threat once officers took the suspect into custody. The juvenile has not been named, which is standard in such cases.

Teacher identified; condition remains critical after transfer

Officials named the victim as Kelly Matthews, a teacher at the school. First responders took him to a local hospital in Hobbs. They then flew him to Lubbock for advanced care.

Reports said Matthews remained in critical condition, with some describing him as critical but stable. That range reflects normal updates during trauma care. Authorities did not release details on surgery or the number of wounds at this time.

The first emergency alert mentioned a stabbing, which led to confusion. Police soon updated callers’ reports to a likely shooting as more information reached dispatch.

That shift is common in chaotic scenes, when witnesses see different angles of the same event. Officers clarified the situation at a press briefing and tied the injury to gunfire, not a blade.

What officials said about motive, charges, and safety signals

Police have not shared a motive. That is not unusual in a juvenile case during the first days. Juvenile records are restricted, so the public may not see a charging document for some time.

That does not slow the investigation. Detectives will review school video, 911 audio, and evidence logs as they build the timeline. For now, the core facts stand on police briefings and consistent local reports across several outlets.

A 13-year-old boy is in custody after allegedly shooting and seriously wounding a teacher at his New Mexico middle school, authorities said. https://t.co/PDMOy8K0Rt

— ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2026

This case fits a broader pattern. Most school shootings are not mass attacks by strangers. Many start with a dispute or involve someone linked to the school. Federal reviews found that school shootings in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade often grow from conflicts or grievances.

The data also show a rise in incidents in recent years, with 2025 showing a lower count than the spike years but still elevated compared to the past.

Parents want order, clear rules, and swift response when rules are broken. This event shows why: a short gap between classes, a door to the outside, and a student who should not have had a gun.

The school locked down fast. Police ran toward danger, then caught the suspect blocks away. That is the model. The next step is accountability and a hard look at access points, supervision between periods, and consequences that fit the act.

Communities also deserve clarity. Officials named the victim, confirmed his condition, and explained the timeline. They did not name the juvenile, which the law supports. That balance protects minors’ rights while keeping the public informed.

The focus now belongs on the victim’s recovery and on practical fixes: tighter campus access during passing periods, visible adult presence at exit doors, and fast information lines from dispatch to parents when details evolve.

The path forward: secure the perimeter, mind the minutes, train for the handoff

Most schools cannot become fortresses, but they can shrink risk during the riskiest minutes of the day. Passing periods deserve the same attention as arrival and dismissal.

Schools should monitor alarms or lock exterior doors to direct foot traffic. Staff who float between classes should carry radios and keep clear sight lines outside.

Police and schools should drill the dispatch handoff early so confusion over the type of attack doesn’t slow the right medical or tactical response.