Newly released police body-camera footage has revealed the disturbing moments after a 13-year-old boy allegedly shot a teacher multiple times at a New Mexico middle school, including the teenager’s chilling question to officers as he was being arrested.
“Is he dead? I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Is he dead?” the boy reportedly asked after police caught him following a brief chase near Highland Middle School in Hobbs.
The September 25 shooting left special education teacher Kelly Matthews critically injured and sent shockwaves through the school community. Now, nearly a month later, video of the emergency response is providing a clearer picture of the frightening incident, from the desperate efforts to save the teacher to the arrest of the student accused of attacking him.
According to the Hobbs Police Department, officers were dispatched to the school shortly before 11:40 a.m. after receiving a report that a staff member had been seriously injured behind one of the buildings. The initial emergency call suggested a possible stabbing, but responding officers quickly discovered that Matthews had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
School employees had already rushed to his aid by the time police arrived.
Body-camera footage obtained by local television station KCBD shows officers racing toward the injured teacher, where school nurse Sylvia Pena and other staff members were attempting to help him.
One employee described hearing Matthews desperately calling for assistance, saying he had been shot and feared he was going to die.
Despite his injuries, Matthews was able to speak with officers and provide a description of the person who had attacked him.
He recalled encountering someone outside the school who was wearing glasses and what appeared to be a mask. According to the footage, Matthews told police that the individual turned toward him and suddenly began firing before running away.
Officers immediately relayed the description over their radios while additional personnel worked to secure the campus and protect students.
Police established a perimeter around Highland Middle School and nearby Coronado Elementary School as the search for the suspected shooter intensified. Students were kept inside secured buildings while officers searched the surrounding neighborhood.
Within a short time, investigators spotted a teenager matching the description in an alley near the school. After a brief pursuit, officers took him into custody.
When asked to identify himself, the boy responded politely, giving his name as Ryker Teel.
But it was what he reportedly said next that made the arrest footage particularly unsettling.
As officers restrained him, the 13-year-old apologized repeatedly and asked whether the teacher had died.
The footage has attracted renewed attention to a case that investigators say involved a student who had allegedly arrived at school with a firearm taken from his family’s home.
According to statements attributed to Teel during a subsequent police interview, conducted with his parents present, the teenager claimed he had obtained his father’s gun from a safe before going to Highland Middle School.
Investigators allege he admitted that he had considered shooting someone at the school and had not selected Matthews in advance.
Instead, authorities say the teacher encountered him outside the building and became the victim of the attack.
Those statements remain allegations, and investigators have not publicly established a definitive explanation for the teenager’s actions.
For Matthews and his family, the immediate concern was survival.
The wounded teacher was initially transported to Covenant Health Hospital in Hobbs before being transferred to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, where he underwent extensive medical treatment.
His injuries were initially described as critical, and relatives said he required surgery after being struck multiple times.
As news of the attack spread, former students and community members began sharing memories of Matthews, describing him as a dedicated educator who emphasized respect and kindness in the classroom.
One former student recalled that respect was among the most important lessons Matthews tried to teach, while others remembered him as someone who regularly took time to check on students and offer encouragement.
The shooting also deeply affected Matthews’ family, particularly his daughter, who spoke publicly about the fear of losing her father and the broader concerns surrounding violence in schools.
Fortunately, subsequent reports have offered encouraging news about his condition.
Although his recovery has been difficult, Matthews has reportedly shown significant improvement and is expected to begin physical therapy as he continues healing from his injuries.
The shooting prompted criminal allegations against Teel, including aggravated battery involving school personnel, making shooting threats and tampering with evidence.
Authorities have also explored handling the case in the federal court system, citing concerns about how the juvenile justice process would address such a serious incident.
Because the accused is only 13 years old, the legal proceedings involve additional considerations that differ from cases involving adult defendants.
Investigators have not announced criminal charges against his parents, although questions surrounding how the teenager obtained access to a firearm remain an important part of the case.
Through their attorney, Teel’s parents released a statement expressing sorrow over what happened and offering prayers for Matthews, his family and the school community.
The incident has also prompted renewed discussion about school security, recognizing warning signs of potential violence and the importance of preventing unauthorized access to firearms.
No students were physically injured during the shooting, but the frightening event disrupted classes, prompted emergency lockdown procedures and left many families shaken.
School officials subsequently arranged additional support resources for students and staff while increasing law enforcement presence around the campus.
For the Hobbs community, the newly released footage serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly an ordinary school day descended into an emergency.
It also highlights the actions of school employees and emergency responders who rushed to help Matthews as officers worked to locate the alleged shooter.
Now, as the criminal case continues, the focus remains on the teacher’s recovery and the unanswered questions surrounding the teenager accused of nearly taking his life.
Matthews survived the attack, and his anticipated return to physical therapy offers hope to the family, colleagues and students who have been following his progress.
