Chronology of the University of New Mexico Shooting Tragedy

The LaMotte Family's Response to the University of New Mexico Shooting

On Monday, July 28, 2025, the legal representatives of the LaMotte family released a statement regarding the tragic death of their client’s son, Michael LaMotte, who was 14 years old. Michael was identified as the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred at the University of New Mexico on Friday, July 25, 2025.

The LaMotte family claims they believe both the university and law enforcement failed to respond promptly to the incident. In response to these allegations, Cinnamon Blair, the Chief Marketing & Communications Director at UNM, issued a statement. The statement included details from the press release:

"While the family is mourning the loss of their son, they have reason to believe neither UNM nor law enforcement responded to this shooting in a timely manner. In the early hours of July 25, 2025, Michael’s mother—Ms. LaMotte—called 911 about the shooting. The dispatch officer referred her to UNM Police Department (“UNM PD”). When Ms. LaMotte reported to UNM PD that Michael may have been the victim of a shooting, UNM PD did not respond. Hours passed between Ms. LaMotte’s initial calls to law enforcement and the police arriving at the dorm room in which the shooting took place. This lengthy delay demonstrates that the incident was not handled with the appropriate level of seriousness demanded by an active shooter on a college campus."

Despite these concerns, the family expressed gratitude to the New Mexico State Police Department for swiftly apprehending the suspect involved in the shooting.

Timeline of Events

The events leading up to the shooting unfolded over several hours, according to statements from law enforcement officials. Here is a breakdown of the timeline:

• 1:36 a.m.: UNM police responded to an alarm at Mesa Vista Hall. Upon arrival, officers discovered broken windows and what appeared to be blood at the scene.

• 2:30 a.m.: The UNM hospital reported a 19-year-old male arrived with a gunshot wound, stating he had been shot on campus. During a nearby sweep, police located a deceased 14-year-old inside the Casas Del Rio dormitory.

• 3:45 a.m.: The State Police Investigations bureau was called to take over the investigation, which they did.

According to the New Mexico State Police, Michael LaMotte was with his half-brother at the Casas Del Rio Dormitory on the night of the shooting. His mother learned about the incident when a family friend informed her. She reportedly contacted UNMPD around 2:15 a.m., indicating that her son might have been a victim of the shooting.

Statements from Law Enforcement

University of New Mexico Police Chief Joseph Silva addressed the situation during a news conference, stating:

"One of the initial calls we got was a disturbance in the parking lot, and the reporting person left the area before the officers could arrive and get more information. It was different calls that came in throughout the early evening or early morning, and that's when we started putting together it might be a connected incident."

Silva emphasized that multiple reports were received, which eventually led to the discovery of the shooting.

University of New Mexico's Statement

The university acknowledged the press release issued by the law firm Rothstein Donatelli, which indicated plans to investigate the timeline of events. In response, Cinnamon Blair, the Chief Marketing & Communications Director, stated:

"The University is aware of a press release distributed by the law firm of Rothstein Donatelli on Monday evening, asserting that they will be investigating the timeline of the events that transpired over the course of Friday, July 25. The university understands the grief that the victim’s family is experiencing, and we empathize with their desire to get to the truth of what happened."

She added that as the investigation is ongoing, it is too early to construct a narrative based on incomplete information. The university expressed its commitment to transparency and urged the public to wait for verified details before drawing conclusions.

Ongoing Investigation

This case remains under investigation, and updates are expected as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for further developments.