A woman was shot and seriously injured inside the Albuquerque Convention Center Wednesday evening while a gradutation ceremony was taking place.
It was not immediately clear if the victim or suspect were involved in the graduation ceremony, which police say was for the Southwest Secondary Learning Center charter school.
The suspect has been taken into custody but has not yet been identified.
Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson, said around 5 p.m. officers were called to the convention center, initially for reports of an active shooter. There was not an active shooter, he added, but a shot was fired.
“A female victim was struck by the bullet, by one single shot,” Gallegos said. “She was transported in critical condition to the hospital.”
He later confirmed that she is now in stable condition and her injuries were not life threatening.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call (505) 242-COPS
“One male individual was taken into custody and the scene was declared to be secured at this time,” Gallegos said. “So there’s no active shooter, there’s no further danger we’re aware of. Officers have been working to get everyone out of the convention center.”
He said investigators are trying to clarify whether the victim or the suspect were at the event being held at the center. He did not yet have a motive for the shooting or know whether the woman was the target.
“Since there does appear to be a lot of individuals who were at this event or in the convention center at the time,” Gallegos said. “I suspect that there is a lot of photos or video or witnesses.”
Teenagers in graduation gowns could be seen leaving the convention center as police investigated the shooting.