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Clovis library shooting

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Coordinates: 34°24′19″N 103°12′16″W / 34.4053°N 103.20456°W / 34.4053; -103.20456
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Clovis library shooting
A portion from the CCTV footage shows the gunman entering the library
Location701 North Main Street, Clovis, New Mexico, U.S.
Coordinates34°24′19″N 103°12′16″W / 34.4053°N 103.20456°W / 34.4053; -103.20456
DateAugust 28, 2017
4:17 p.m. (MST)
Attack type
Mass shooting
Weapons
Deaths2
Injured4
PerpetratorNathaniel Jouett

On August 28, 2017, a mass shooting occurred at the Clovis-Carver Library, a public library in downtown Clovis, New Mexico, U.S. The gunman fatally shot two people and injured four others. He was identified as Nathaniel Jouett, a 16-year-old student at nearby Clovis High School.[3]

Shooting

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On the day of the shooting, the suspect recorded three videos at his home where he announces his planned massacre. In the videos, he apologizes for his upcoming actions and tries to explain his motivations in which he cited various factors (bullying, mental illness, and suicidal thoughts).[4]

The suspect entered the library at 4:15 pm MST on Monday, August 28, 2017, and went into the restroom. There, Jouett uploaded a photo of his camera bag, containing his father's guns and ammunition, to his social media. The uploaded photo also displayed a time "4:10 PM" over the original photo. A caption attached to the photo says "It begins".[5] Shortly after he walked out of the restroom, he pulled out the .380-caliber handgun from his bag and began shooting.[6] At the time of the shooting, it was unclear how many people were in the library and Jouett seemed to fire randomly as individuals and parents with children tried to flee.[7] In the span of six seconds, Jouett rapidly fired 14 rounds from the .380-caliber handgun indiscriminately. During those six seconds, he fatally shot two people and injured three others, including a 10-year-old child.[8] Surveillance footage captured Jouett walking around the library, shouting at people to run, after he fired those 14 rounds. Eventually, Jouett placed the .380-caliber handgun back in the bag he was carrying and pulled out the .45-caliber handgun. He proceeded to wound one more person before firing four times through a door trying to hit someone who barricaded themselves. In total, he fired 14 rounds from the .380-caliber handgun and six rounds from the .45-caliber handgun.[9] Jouett wandered around the library without firing any more shots and eventually encountered a man who had returned to the library while on the phone with 911. The shooter told the man to put down his phone. The man told Jouett that someone was looking for him. The suspect turned around and threatened a mother and child before walking towards where the man was pointing at.[7] Soon after, the police arrived.

According to an eyewitness, the gunman entered the library and shot into the carpet, shouting "Run! Why aren’t you running? I’m shooting at you! Run!" before he began to move about the room shooting at people.[10] Another witness claimed that Jouett looked happy, that "He was just laughing, smiling the whole time, until he came up real close to me, and then he put on that mean look."[7]

Police received multiple emergency calls.[6] About 15 minutes after the first call came in, police received a call from the suspect's father, who told them that the suspect had taken his father's guns from the safe where they were kept, and left the house.[6]

The suspect surrendered immediately when police arrived; he did not struggle with the arresting officers.[10] He told police that he had been planning an attack for a while, and that he had intended to shoot up the school before killing himself.[6]

Victims

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Two people, Wanda Walters, 61, and Kristina Carter, 48, both library employees, were killed. Kristina Carter was the youth librarian and Wanda Walters worked at the circulation desk. Four people were wounded, who were identified as Howard Jones, 53, Jessica Thron, 30, Alexis Molina, 20, and Noah Molina, 10.[10]

[edit]

According to Public Radio station KUNM, although the Associated Press usually refrains from using the names of juvenile defendants, it chose to publish Nathaniel Jouett's name "because of the seriousness of the crime and because authorities are seeking adult sanctions."[11]

Curry County District Attorney Andrea Reeb announced prior to the trial that she intended to prosecute Jouett as an adult.[10] The suspect made his first court appearance on August 31, 2017.[12] Jouett was indicted on September 8, 2017 for two counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of child abuse, four counts of aggravated battery, and twenty counts of assault with intent to commit a violent felony.[13][14][15]

In April 2018, a judge denied a defense request to transfer Jouett from prison to a juvenile treatment facility,[16] and ordered that he undergo a mental "evaluation and assessment" so that his mental health needs could be addressed.[17] On October 17, 2018, Jouett pleaded guilty in the shooting.[18] On February 15, 2019, Jouett was sentenced to two life sentences, with the possibility of parole, plus 40 years in prison.[19] Jouett is currently incarcerated in the Lea County Correctional Center.[20]

References

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  1. ^ Greider, David (February 15, 2019). "Shooting victims tell their stories". The Eastern New Mexico News. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "Lawsuit Filed in Clovis Library Shooting Case". August 7, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  3. ^ "2 dead, 4 injured in shooting at library in Clovis, New Mexico". ABC News. August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  4. ^ Zamora, Kaitlin; Stafford, Cassie (February 12, 2019). "Courtroom hears testimony from victims during first day of Nathaniel Jouett sentencing". News Channel 10. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  5. ^ "Nathaniel Jouett Sentenced to Life for Clovis Library Shooting". KAMR - MyHighPlains.com. February 15, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "Shooting suspect: I thought I would kill myself or kill a bunch of people". KOAT. August 30, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Library shooting: Patrons tell of laughing gunman ordering them to run". The Mercury News. August 30, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  8. ^ Grieder, David. "Clovis observes library shooting anniversary". The Eastern New Mexico News. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  9. ^ Grieder, David. "Shooting victims tell their stories". The Eastern New Mexico News. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d DeGrandpre, Andrew (August 29, 2017). "16-year-old faces murder charges in New Mexico library shooting". Washington Post. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  11. ^ "Teen Charged In Clovis Library Shooting To Undergo Evaluation". KUNM. AP. April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  12. ^ "Teen accused of Clovis shooting makes first court appearance". KRQE. August 31, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  13. ^ "Teen accused of deadly Clovis shooting to be tried as an adult". KQRE. September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Grand jury indicts New Mexico teen in library shooting". Miami Herald. AP. September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  15. ^ "Trial date set for Clovis library shooting case". KRQE. February 13, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  16. ^ "Teen charged in Clovis library shooting denied transfer". KOB. AP. April 12, 2018.
  17. ^ "Teen charged in fatal library shooting to undergo evaluation". KOB. AP. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ Mendoza, Elena (October 17, 2018). "Teen pleads guilty to all 30 charges in Clovis library shooting". KRQE. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  19. ^ "Judge sentences Nathaniel Jouett to two life sentences". KFDA. February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  20. ^ "NMCD Offender Search".[permanent dead link]
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