A New Mexico man shot and killed his stepmother as she tried to hug him during a high school graduation ceremony, authorities said Wednesday.
The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) said they received a report of shots fired at the Albuquerque Convention Center around 5 p.m.
Authorities said the woman was attending a graduation ceremony for her son at Southwest Secondary Learning Center. Her stepson, Christian Bencomo, 21, arrived and “as she tried to hug him, he pulled out a handgun and shot her in the neck,” police said.
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“As you can imagine, there was a lot of chaos at the time,” APD Communications Director Gilbert Gallegos told media at the scene.
At the time, more than 100 people attended the charter school’s graduation ceremony. The woman was rushed to the hospital, but she is expected to survive. APD said Bencomo was restrained by her bystanders until police arrived.
Christian Bencomo, 21, allegedly shot and killed his stepmother during a high school graduation ceremony in New Mexico. (Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center)
Jennifer Renfro, who attended the ceremony, told Fox Television that the graduates had just received their diplomas and roses to give to their “significant others.” After she hugged her son, she “heard a very loud popping sound,” she said.
“Many people thought it was a firecracker or a balloon. We all ducked down,” he told the press, adding that his daughter hid on the ground.
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According to jail records at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, Bencomo was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, aggravated assault with intent to cause great bodily harm to a family member, and preventive detention. He has been indicted.
He is being held without bail.
