It took 10 seconds yesterday for a 12-year-old New Mexico middle school student to enter the school's gym full of students, pull out a .20-gauge shotgun, start firing, put the gun down and be apprehended, reports the Albuquerque Journal. Two students were seriously injured. A teacher talked the boy into putting down the weapon and a State Police lieutenant who happened to be at the school dropping off his child took the boy into custody.
An 11-year-old boy was in critical condition. The suspect, Mason Campbell, was transferred to a psychiatric hospital in Albuquerque. State Police Chief Pete Kassetas said the suspect allegedly sawed off the gun's wood stock, put it in a bag and smuggled it into the school. The shooting occurred around 7:30 a.m., when about 500 students were gathered in the school gym. Roswell School Superintendent Tom Burris said the school's faculty had participated in “active shooter” training, and they responded appropriately. “In the 10 seconds that transpired from the time of this thing starting until the teacher had control of the weapon, there was no cowardice,” Burris said. “There was protection for our kids. Everyone acted and did their duties today at Berrendo Middle School.”