A juvenile male was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit as authorities secured Highland Middle School and protected students and staff.
HOBBS, N.M. — A special education teacher was hospitalized after being shot multiple times outside Highland Middle School in Hobbs on Friday, Sept. 25, and police took a juvenile male into custody following a brief foot pursuit, authorities said.
The teacher was identified by his family as Kelly Matthews, a special education teacher at the school. Hobbs police said officers were dispatched to Highland Middle School at about 11:39 a.m. after a call initially reported as a stabbing was updated to a possible shooting. Officers arrived within about a minute, secured the campus and found an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. No students were reported injured.
Hobbs Municipal Schools Superintendent Gene Strickland said a juvenile attacked and shot a staff member while the employee was outside the school building. Police have described the person taken into custody as a juvenile male but have not publicly released his identity. Authorities also have not confirmed whether the juvenile is a student at Highland Middle School.
Matthews’ daughter told KOAT that her father was shot in the stomach and hip and may have been grazed by another bullet. She said her understanding was that Matthews had been walking through the parking lot or between school buildings when he encountered the suspect. Her account provides some detail about the shooting, but police have not publicly released a complete sequence of events or established what led to the encounter.
Police said the suspect fled the area on foot after the shooting. Officers and other agencies searched the neighborhood surrounding the school before locating a juvenile male who matched the suspect’s description. He was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit, according to police. Authorities said the school buildings were secured and students and staff were safe following the response.
Matthews was initially transported by Hobbs emergency medical personnel to Covenant Health Hospital in Hobbs. His family later said he underwent surgery at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. Public reports did not provide a detailed medical prognosis Saturday, though his family and community members continued to express support for his recovery.
Highland Middle School is located at 2500 N. Jefferson in Hobbs. The school serves the Hobbs Municipal Schools district, and its official website describes its mission as providing a safe learning environment while challenging students to reach their potential. Matthews’ family and school records identified him as a special education teacher.
The shooting also disrupted scheduled school activities. Hobbs Municipal Schools canceled a homecoming parade planned for Friday and rescheduled the varsity football game for Saturday morning. District officials said the changes were made out of an abundance of caution and in coordination with community partners as law enforcement continued its investigation.
Police have not announced a motive or publicly explained whether investigators believe Matthews was specifically targeted. Authorities also have not released details about the handgun reportedly used in the shooting or publicly announced charges against the juvenile. Because the investigation involves a minor, officials have released limited information about the suspect.
The Hobbs Police Department continued investigating the shooting Saturday. The juvenile remained in custody, while Matthews continued recovering after medical treatment. Authorities said there was no continuing threat to students or staff, and additional details about the shooting were expected to depend on the ongoing investigation.