Panic As Man Shoots Stepmom Who Tried To Give Him Hug During Graduation Ceremony

Authorities have reported that during a high school graduation ceremony on Wednesday, a man from New Mexico, United States of America, shot his stepmother as she approached him for a hug.

The man identified as Christian Bencomo, 21, is currently being held with no bail.

Fox News reports that the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) said it received a call around 5 p.m. about shots fired at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

According to the report, authorities said the woman was attending the Southwest Secondary Learning Center graduation for her son.

Her stepson arrived and “as she started to hug him, he produced a handgun and shot her in the neck,” police said.

APD Communications Director, Gilbert Gallegos, told the media at the scene there was a lot of chaos at the time.

Gallegos said there were over 100 people at the charter school graduation ceremony at the time, adding that the woman was rushed to a hospital and is expected to survive.

Bencomo was held by bystanders until the police arrived, the APD said.

According to jail records at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, Bencomo has been charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, aggravated battery with intent to cause great bodily harm to a family member and preventative detention.