Astonishing bodycam shows baby-faced 13-year-old boy being arrested by armed cops after he allegedly shot teacher outside school
A 13-year-old boy was arrested after allegedly shooting teacher Kelly Matthews outside Highland Middle School in Hobbs, New Mexico, on 25 September. Newly released body-worn camera footage shows the arrest and the boy asking officers whether Matthews was dead; the case has raised concerns about school safety and how the gun was accessed.
Police say Matthews was struck in the stomach and hip and suffered other bullet grazes, but survived and is recovering at a rehabilitation centre. According to a police report, the boy allegedly admitted taking a gun from his family’s home safe and bringing it to school to shoot “anyone”. He faces charges of aggravated assault, tampering with evidence and making shooting threats.
In short
- A 13-year-old is accused of shooting a teacher outside a New Mexico school.
- The teacher survived multiple gunshot wounds and is recovering.
- Police say the boy admitted taking a gun from his home safe.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The alleged attack underscores the need to protect pupils and staff, and supporters of strong school security and early intervention argue that credible threats and access to firearms require a serious response. If the account of the boy taking a gun from a home safe and bringing it to school is accurate, they would say accountability and closer attention to firearm storage are essential to preventing further harm.
The case against
The allegations are grave, but a 13-year-old is still a child, and advocates of a more rehabilitative response would stress the need to establish the facts while considering his age, circumstances and capacity for judgment. They may argue that safeguarding, mental health support and scrutiny of how he accessed the gun should accompany any legal consequences, rather than treating punishment alone as a solution to school safety.