Roberto E. Rosales / Albuquerque Journal / ZUMA24.com John Masterson stands outside his door as he talks to the media Tuesday night. Masterson confronted the shooter at a Roswell, N.M., middle school Tuesday morning. 
 
 With a sawed-off shotgun pointed straight at him, a New Mexico social studies teacher calmly talked a 12-year-old student into putting down his weapon — and stopped the country's latest school shooting from being something much worse. 
 
 Two students were hurt — an 11-year-old boy shot in the face and a 13-year-old girl, identified as Kendal Sanders, who was shot in the shoulder. Both were being treated Wednesday at a hospital in Lubbock, Texas. The boy was in critical condition, while Kendal was listed as stable in satisfactory condition. 
 
 The shooting stopped when John Masterson, a social studies teacher at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell, calmly talked the boy — identified in court documents Wednesday night as Mason Campbell — into putting down his 20-gauge pump-action shotgun, police said. 
 
 Campbell, described as a "juvenile child," was charged Wednesday in Fifth Judicial District Court in Chaves County with three felony counts of third-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was being held at Child Psychiatric Hospital in Albuquerque on the order of a judge. 
 
 In a statement Wednesday, his parents and grandparents said they were "heartbroken" and were praying for the wounded children. 
 
 Masterson has spent a decade at the school and coaches soccer and track. He told The Albuquerque Journal on Tuesday night that "it was a harrowing experience," but authorities have asked him not to speak further with reporters. 
 
 New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kasseta says a shotgun, with a sawed-off handle was used by a student in the shooting Tuesday at a New Mexico middle school. 
 
 "He is an amazing man," said Gov. Susana Martinez, who met with Masterson. "He stood there and allowed the gun to be pointed right at him so there would be no more young kids hurt." 
 
 According to an account given by Martinez, the teacher was facing away from the shooter, and the shooter away from him, when the first shot was fired. The teacher thought it was a firecracker, she said. 
 
 The teacher wheeled around and saw the young man fire more shots before he pointed the gun at Masterson, she said. The teacher talked to him and urged him to put the gun down. 
 
 The shooter put the gun down and raised his hands, and Masterson put him up against a wall, the governor said. Just then, an off-duty state police officer arrived — he was dropping his own son off at the school — and they contained the student. 
 
 The teacher and the off-duty officer, Lt. Gary Smith, drew praise from authorities for their bravery. 
 
 "It's one thing for an armed state police officer to enter a school and do his or her job," said Pete Kassetas, the state police chief. "It's another thing for a teacher [or a] staff member to intervene." 
 
 Kassetas said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that investigators had interviewed 60 direct witnesses and believed the boy not only planned the shootings but even warned some of his fellow students on his way into the gym. 
 
 Once there, just after 8 a.m. (10 a.m. ET), he pulled the weapon from a duffel bag and opened fire, apparently at random. Three shots were fired, Kassetas said — one into the ceiling, one into the floor and the one directly into a crowd of students in the bleachers 12 to 15 feet away. 
 
 NBC News Hundreds packed the Roswell Civic Center for a prayer vigil for students injured in a school shooting in Roswell, N.M., on Tuesday. 
 
 In police tapes released Wednesday, panicked callers to 911 described the scene. 
 
 One caller, who said the boy was dressed in purple, reported that "some kid walked in with a shotgun and just shot!" 
 
 The dispatcher asked: "Where's the person?" 
 
 Caller: "Berrendo Middle School in the big gym." 
 
 Dispatcher: "OK, do they still have the gun?" 
 
 Caller: "Yes, they still have it. He shot three shots, but he only hit one person." 
 
 Another, sounding as though he were crying, exclaimed, "Oh, my god!" 
 
 Caller: "Berrendo Middle School, a kid just got shot!" 
 
 Dispatcher: "Berrendo Middle School?" 
 
 Caller: "Berrendo Middle School — someone just got shot!" 
 
 Dispatcher: "Where is he [the shooter]?" 
 
 Caller: "He's on the floor." 
 
 Nearly a dozen agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives converged on the Campbells' home Tuesday afternoon, but they wouldn't say what they were looking for. 
 
 Margarita Macias, who lives next door, told KOB that the boy's father built her home. She described the family as normal and nice and said neighbors were "absolutely stunned." 
 
 "I've never had any issues with their kids, and, you know, this thing — that's why when the news broke out, I was in shock," she said. "I just could not believe that it could happen so close to home." 
 
 Miguel Almaguer, Alastair Jamieson and Sossy Dombourian of NBC News contributed to this report. 
 
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 — The Roswell school shootings: Complete coverage 
 
 
 
 Two children were airlifted to a Lubbock hospital after today’s school shooting at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell. Police have a 12-year-old suspect in custody: Mason Campbell, a seventh-grader at the school. 
 
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 Campbell, who smuggled a 20-gauge shotgun with the wood stock sawed off into the school, warned several students not to attend school today, State Police Chief Pete Kassetas said at a news conference Tuesday night. 
 
 An 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were both seriously injured in the shooting. Both were airlifted to UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, according to a hospital spokesperson. As of 12:45 p.m., the boy remained in critical condition. The girl’s condition was initially listed at critical, but it has been updated to satisfactory, according to the hospital. 
 
 Family members have confirmed that the girl who was shot is Kendal Sanders. 
 
 Albuquerque attorney Robert Gorence said he is representing the suspect. He said the boy’s family will be issuing a written statement Wednesday. 
 
 After a hearing today, Campbell was transferred to a psychiatric hospital in Albuquerque. 
 
 New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas said during a news conference this afternoon that the suspect walked into the school gymnasium with a shotgun hidden in a bag of some sort. 
 
 Police are serving three search warrants: for Campbell’s school locker, his Roswell-area home and the bag. 
 
 Kassetas also said officers were working with the District Attorney’s Office to determine what charges should be filed against Campbell. 
 
 He said State Police Lt. Gary Smith was dropping off his child just as the school principal was locking the front doors. After Campbell shot the boy and the girl, he pointed pointed the gun at social studies teacher John Masterson. Masterson talked Campbell into putting the gun down, and Smith took the boy into custody. 
 
 Superintendent Tom Burris said the school’s faculty members had participated in “active shooter” training, and they responded appropriately today. 
 
 “In the 10 seconds that transpired from the time of this thing starting until the teacher had control of the weapon, there was no cowardice,” Burris said. “There was protection for our kids. Everyone acted and did their duties today at Berrendo Middle School.” 
 
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 Eva Gomez, Roswell Education Association president, identified eighth-grade social studies teacher John Masterson as the staff member who stopped Campbell and convinced him to put his gun down. Masterson also coaches track and soccer. 
 
 Masterson wouldn’t confirm that when contacted this afternoon, saying police had asked him not to comment on the shooting. 
 
 “It was a harrowing experience,” said Masterson, who has taught at Berrendo Middle School for 10 years. “All I can say was the staff there did a great job.” 
 
 Gov. Susana Martinez said a staff member received very minor injuries but declined medical care because he wanted to stay and help. 
 
 Gabriel Portillo, a seventh-grade student at Berrendo, said he saw a male student carrying a gun. He said that student shot a boy in the face near his eye. 
 
 Another student who witnessed the shooting said a male student shot the boy twice in the face and shot the girl in the arm. 
 
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 Eighth-grader Odiee Carranza said she was walking to the school gym when a boy bumped into her as he rushed past. She told him to be careful, and he apologized and continued on. He ran to the gym, where he pulled a gun out of a band instrument case and fired at the students. 
 
 “Then he shot up in the sky, then dropped the gun, and then some teacher grabbed the kid that had the gun,” Carranza said. 
 
 Another student, Gabbie Vasquez, said she knew the suspect, but didn’t consider him violent. “He really didn’t talk to nobody. He’s quiet and kind of awkward,” Vasquez said. 
 
 Brooke Linthicum, spokeswoman for the Eastern New Mexico Medical Center, said two students were treated there and later transported. She could not provide any more details about their arrival at the hospital. 
 
 In a Facebook post this morning, Roswell police asked parents not to go to the school because it was locked down. Parents instead were able to pick up their students at a mall parking lot nearby. 
 
 Fawna Hendricks, whose son is a seventh-grader at Berrendo, said she heard about the shooting on the radio. 
 
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 “Basically I jumped outta bed, threw on clothes, panicked,” Hendricks said. 
 
 Hendricks arrived at the school after it was locked down. She was sent to the parking lot of the Roswell Mall, where hundreds of parents had gathered. 
 
 Hendricks said her son’s teacher allowed him to call her. “He’s scared. Most of the kids up there are pretty scared,” she said. 
 
 Lorena Beltran heard about the shooting when her daughter, who attends the school, texted her. She said her daughter said that a male student had been shot in the face. 
 
 Sixth-grade student Anyssa Vegara said she was talking to a security guard when she heard the shot. 
 
 “I turned around, and all I saw was someone on the floor with their arm bleeding,” Vegara said. 
 
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 She said the security guard ran to assist the injured student, and school officials ordered all the students to their classrooms. 
 
 Eventually, she was able to text her mother, Monica Vegara. 
 
 “From the time hearing about it, until the time she texted, it was a nightmare,” Vegara said. 
 
 William Vegara, Anyssa’s father, said it was nerve-wracking. “You never know if it was your kid or not.” 
 
 School will be back in session Thursday, according to the Roswell Independent School District superintendent. 
 
 A prayer vigil was scheduled tonight at the Roswell Convention Center. 
 
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 “Please don’t forget this community is a strong community, They will pull together,” Martinez said. 
 
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 — The Roswell school shootings: Complete coverage 
 
 
 
 Two children were airlifted to a Lubbock hospital after today’s school shooting at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell. Police have a 12-year-old suspect in custody: Mason Campbell, a seventh-grader at the school. 
 
 Campbell, who smuggled a 20-gauge shotgun with the wood stock sawed off into the school, warned several students not to attend school today, State Police Chief Pete Kassetas said at a news conference Tuesday night. 
 
 An 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were both seriously injured in the shooting. Both were airlifted to UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, according to a hospital spokesperson. As of 12:45 p.m., the boy remained in critical condition. The girl’s condition was initially listed at critical, but it has been updated to satisfactory, according to the hospital. 
 
 Family members have confirmed that the girl who was shot is Kendal Sanders. 
 
 Albuquerque attorney Robert Gorence said he is representing the suspect. He said the boy’s family will be issuing a written statement Wednesday. 
 
 After a hearing today, Campbell was transferred to a psychiatric hospital in Albuquerque. 
 
 New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas said during a news conference this afternoon that the suspect walked into the school gymnasium with a shotgun hidden in a bag of some sort. 
 
 Police are serving three search warrants: for Campbell’s school locker, his Roswell-area home and the bag. 
 
 Kassetas also said officers were working with the District Attorney’s Office to determine what charges should be filed against Campbell. 
 
 He said State Police Lt. Gary Smith was dropping off his child just as the school principal was locking the front doors. After Campbell shot the boy and the girl, he pointed pointed the gun at social studies teacher John Masterson. Masterson talked Campbell into putting the gun down, and Smith took the boy into custody. 
 
 Superintendent Tom Burris said the school’s faculty members had participated in “active shooter” training, and they responded appropriately today. 
 
 “In the 10 seconds that transpired from the time of this thing starting until the teacher had control of the weapon, there was no cowardice,” Burris said. “There was protection for our kids. Everyone acted and did their duties today at Berrendo Middle School.” 
 
 Eva Gomez, Roswell Education Association president, identified eighth-grade social studies teacher John Masterson as the staff member who stopped Campbell and convinced him to put his gun down. Masterson also coaches track and soccer. 
 
 Masterson wouldn’t confirm that when contacted this afternoon, saying police had asked him not to comment on the shooting. 
 
 “It was a harrowing experience,” said Masterson, who has taught at Berrendo Middle School for 10 years. “All I can say was the staff there did a great job.” 
 
 Gov. Susana Martinez said a staff member received very minor injuries but declined medical care because he wanted to stay and help. 
 
 Gabriel Portillo, a seventh-grade student at Berrendo, said he saw a male student carrying a gun. He said that student shot a boy in the face near his eye. 
 
 Another student who witnessed the shooting said a male student shot the boy twice in the face and shot the girl in the arm. 
 
 Eighth-grader Odiee Carranza said she was walking to the school gym when a boy bumped into her as he rushed past. She told him to be careful, and he apologized and continued on. He ran to the gym, where he pulled a gun out of a band instrument case and fired at the students. 
 
 “Then he shot up in the sky, then dropped the gun, and then some teacher grabbed the kid that had the gun,” Carranza said. 
 
 Another student, Gabbie Vasquez, said she knew the suspect, but didn’t consider him violent. “He really didn’t talk to nobody. He’s quiet and kind of awkward,” Vasquez said. 
 
 Brooke Linthicum, spokeswoman for the Eastern New Mexico Medical Center, said two students were treated there and later transported. She could not provide any more details about their arrival at the hospital. 
 
 In a Facebook post this morning, Roswell police asked parents not to go to the school because it was locked down. Parents instead were able to pick up their students at a mall parking lot nearby. 
 
 Fawna Hendricks, whose son is a seventh-grader at Berrendo, said she heard about the shooting on the radio. 
 
 “Basically I jumped outta bed, threw on clothes, panicked,” Hendricks said. 
 
 Hendricks arrived at the school after it was locked down. She was sent to the parking lot of the Roswell Mall, where hundreds of parents had gathered. 
 
 Hendricks said her son’s teacher allowed him to call her. “He’s scared. Most of the kids up there are pretty scared,” she said. 
 
 Lorena Beltran heard about the shooting when her daughter, who attends the school, texted her. She said her daughter said that a male student had been shot in the face. 
 
 Sixth-grade student Anyssa Vegara said she was talking to a security guard when she heard the shot. 
 
 “I turned around, and all I saw was someone on the floor with their arm bleeding,” Vegara said. 
 
 She said the security guard ran to assist the injured student, and school officials ordered all the students to their classrooms. 
 
 Eventually, she was able to text her mother, Monica Vegara. 
 
 “From the time hearing about it, until the time she texted, it was a nightmare,” Vegara said. 
 
 William Vegara, Anyssa’s father, said it was nerve-wracking. “You never know if it was your kid or not.” 
 
 School will be back in session Thursday, according to the Roswell Independent School District superintendent. 
 
 A prayer vigil was scheduled tonight at the Roswell Convention Center. 
 
 “Please don’t forget this community is a strong community, They will pull together,” Martinez said. 
 
 Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.
– Two kids were seriously injured today in a shooting at a middle school in Roswell, NM, and authorities say the shooting suspect—another student—is in custody. A 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were airlifted to a Texas hospital, KOB reports. The boy was in critical condition and the girl was upgraded to serious condition. The suspect is a 12-year-old boy, and initial reports suggest that the wounded boy was his intended target. Witnesses say he was shot in the face, reports the Albuquerque Journal. Police haven't speculated about a motive. The AP has this: "Eighth-grader Odiee Carranza said she was walking to the school gym when a boy bumped into her as he rushed past. She told him to be careful, and he apologized and continued on. He ran to the gym, where he pulled a gun out of a band instrument case and fired at the students." She described the suspect as a "smart kid and a nice kid." Gov. Susana Martinez says a teacher at Berrendo Middle School approached the shooter and convinced him to put his shotgun down after the initial shots.