Police: Student prankster reported false school shooting at Santa Teresa Middle

Sunland Park Police officers detained a 14-year-old student who allegedly made a false emergency call, leading to a shelter-in-place situation at Santa Teresa Middle School.

Shortly before 1 p.m., police responded to an emergency call about a “shooting in progress” at Santa Teresa Middle School. The school had to shelter-in-place while police investigated the scene.

The order was shortly lifted after a 14-year-old student was detained for allegedly making the false emergency call.

Police said the student has been referred to the Juvenile Probation Office for Obstruction of the Educational Process, and for Use of Telephone to Terrify, Intimidate, Threaten, Harass, Annoy or Offend. The student will be appearing before the Dona Ana County, New Mexico Third Judicial District Court.

“We want to assure the public this was a single isolated incident being handled by the school and the police department. We also want to remind students and residents that prank calls like these are taken very serious,” said Sunland Park Police Detective Daniel Perez.