ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – He was one of the four people inside a University of New Mexico dorm room when a shooter started firing his gun. One of the bullets hit and killed his 14-year-old brother. For the first time, there is video of what he said unfolded that night.
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A 19-year-old gave his explanation to police about what happened the night of a deadly shooting that rocked UNM’s campus. His little brother, 14-year-old Michael LaMotte, was shot and killed in July in the dorm room.
It took hours for police to catch up to LaMotte’s older brother, who was also there. The brother said he took his little brother to hang out and play video games with two friends at the Casas del Rio dorm. He said 18-year-old John Fuentes suddenly started firing a gun, and he took cover under the bed, not knowing where his brother was or if he had been shot. He said one of the bullets grazed his friend’s head.
Shortly after, he said he and his friend, who was grazed by a bullet, got out through a window. They believe Fuentes broke another window and took off. The brother didn’t explain why he didn’t check on his brother; instead, the two fled to a family member’s home. Within minutes of arriving, they left to go to UNM hospital to treat the head injury.
Police then ask if there were drugs or alcohol involved. The brother says they were smoking weed, including his 14-year-old brother. He then goes on to say the older teens were drinking, and Fuentes had a bag of cocaine. Police question how well they know Fuentes, and he said they’ve hung out a few times and gotten along. Police took the brother’s phone, car, t-shirt, and other items for DNA testing.
Fuentes is being held behind bars on charges including second-degree murder. In more police interviews, LaMotte’s father and sister said they were worried about LaMotte hanging out and partying with his old brother.
