High School Junior is Unintentionally Shot and Killed

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Elijah Pohl-Morfin, 16, was unintentionally shot and killed by 16-year-old Adrian Martinez. After attending a basketball game, both boys were hanging out with other teenagers, smoking weed and playing with a gun. According to one witness, Martinez was adjusting the blue laser sight attached to his gun when it went off striking Pohl-Morfin. Martinez tried to enlist one of the teens to hide two guns; and fled after he and another teen drove Pohl-Morfin to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Both boys were in the 11th grade and played on the football team. A witness also said that Martinez “had multiple firearms” and that both boys carried guns. Martinez was eventually taken into custody and has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence.

Discussing children and guns, a district attorney noted that their access to firearms is “out of control.” “We all know young people make bad decisions, but when you insert firearms into that, it’s horrific consequences.” And the high school principal in a news conference also discussed the importance of safely storing weapons and suggested that parents may also want to start checking students’ rooms, cars, and backpacks. She said, “…it’s one thing to talk to your kid. At this stage, we need to go a little deeper.”

Source:

Matthew Reisen, “‘Worst of our fears’: Details Emerge in Teen’s Fatal Shooting Outside Atrisco Heritage High,” abqjournal.com (December 9, 2023).