13-Year-Old Arrested After Allegedly Shooting Teacher in New Mexico
Bodycam footage captures the moment a young teen was apprehended following the attack outside Highland Middle School.
Shocking bodycam footage has emerged showing the arrest of a 13-year-old boy suspected of shooting his teacher outside Highland Middle School in Hobbs, New Mexico, on September 25. The video captures the moment Ryker Teel, identified as the suspect, was tackled to the ground by armed officers after a brief manhunt.
The incident began when a school staffer discovered teacher Kelly Matthews severely injured outside the school, calling 911 to report he was bleeding profusely and had been either stabbed or shot. Matthews, in the released footage, told responding officers he was ambushed and could not recall his attacker, describing the assailant as a white male in a black hoodie, black pants, and a long white T-shirt.
Responding officers apprehended Teel within minutes, spotting him walking near the school. The bodycam footage shows officers quickly surrounding him, ordering him to the ground. When asked his name, the young suspect responded, "Ryker Teel, sir." As he was taken into custody in handcuffs, Teel asked the officers, "Is he dead?" He repeatedly stated, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Is he dead?"
According to a police report, Teel confessed to stealing a gun from his home safe during an interview with police and his parents present. He allegedly admitted to taking the weapon to school with the intent to shoot "anyone," not a specific target. Teel now faces charges including aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and making shooting threats.
Matthews sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including direct hits to his stomach and hip, as well as grazing wounds. His daughter told KOAT that the attack was random and expressed fears that it could have been a precursor to a larger mass shooting. She called for significant reform, stating, "Thoughts and prayers are not enough, and something has to change."
Matthews has since been released from the hospital and is undergoing rehabilitation. Teel's parents issued a statement through their attorney expressing sadness and offering prayers for the victim and his family.