Woman shot in neck by stepson at N.M. high school graduation ceremony

A New Mexico woman was shot in the neck by her stepson at a high school graduation ceremony in Albuquerque, authorities said.

Christian Bencomo, 21, was arrested at the scene at the Albuquerque Convention Center Wednesday night, according to police.

The victim was not publicly identified, though Albuquerque police said her injuries are not considered to be life-threatening.

Students from Southwest Secondary Learning Center, an Albuquerque charter school, had gathered at the convention center Wednesday for their graduation ceremony.

But around 5 p.m., a gunshot rang out inside the building. Cops were initially told it was an active shooter situation, but investigators arrived to find one bullet had been fired a single person, according to Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos.

The victim was attending the graduation of her biological son when her stepson, Bencomo, approached her, police said.

“As she started to hug him, he produced a handgun and shot her in the neck,” the Albuquerque Police Department said on social media “Bystanders held him until officers arrived.”

Bencomo was charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated assault and two counts of unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon, according to NBC News.

There were likely more than 100 people in attendance for the graduation ceremony, Gallegos said.

“All of the sudden there was this big pop, and we all got quiet, looked around, and most of us, it turned out, most of us thought it was just a balloon, a celebratory balloon,” witness Mary Ward told local NBC affiliate KOB. “But then all of the sudden, they just started shouting ‘Get down, get down.’ And it’s just overwhelming. That situation is so scary.”