Santa Fe police arrest 14-year-old in accidental shooting of teen
Santa Fe police have arrested a 14-year-old boy in a shooting that left a 15-year-old with non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting appeared to be an accident, according to police.
Carlos Salazar, 14, of Santa Fe, is accused of shooting the 15-year-old twice. Officers were called to a local hospital on Thursday around 10:08 p.m. after the victim arrived with two non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, police said.
The 15-year-old was later taken to an Albuquerque hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers later learned from a witness that Salazar was involved in the incident and that the shooting appeared to be an “accident.” An officer contacted Salazar and said he showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol. Salazar later submitted to a breath test, which returned a BAC of 0.10.
Salazar is facing charges of unlawful carrying of a firearm, negligent use of a deadly weapon, and possession of alcoholic beverage by a minor. He will be held in custody at the San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center.
“The teen offender did not wish to speak with the handling officer. Detectives are conducting additional investigative work to determine how the offender came into possession of the firearm and if an adult was culpable with providing the teen access to the firearm,” Santa Fe Police Department Interim Chief of Police Ben Valdez told KRQE News in an email.
Separately, Santa Fe police learned that the 15-year-old shooting victim had been treated at the hospital on Aug. 6 for a gunshot wound in a previous incident that occurred in Santa Fe County.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Manuel Romero at [email protected] or at 505-955-5287.
