Clovis shooting: Two dead and four injured as gunman opens fire in New Mexico library
A gunman has opened fire in a library in New Mexico, killing at least two people and injuring four.
The shooting happened in the city of Clovis, near the border with Texas.
At least six people were shot, two of them fatally, Fire Chief Michael Nolen said
MORE: At least one person in custody in #Clovis library shooting. Photo via Eastern New Mexico News. #NewMexico#NM#shooting#koatpic.twitter.com/rzUUuUzIFx
— Royale Da - KOAT (@RoyaleKOAT) August 28, 2017
A suspect has been arrested, he said
Library patron Vanessa Aguirre said she was in the Clovis-Carter Public Library with her son when a man came in and "started to shoot" into the air, The Eastern New Mexico News reported.
"It all happened so fast," she told the newspaper. "We took off fast. My purse is still in there."
The newspaper reported that air ambulances had been dispatched and at least one victim was taken to Clovis Municipal Airport for transport to Lubbock, Texas.
The newspaper's website showed images of armed police approaching the library, a young man being led away by a police officer and a woman, who appeared to be injured, being carried into an ambulance.
Some victims were received at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, said Kerri Dufault, spokeswoman for Albuquerque based Presbyterian Healthcare Center, which operates the Clovis hospital.
JUST IN: Photos coming in of #Clovis library shooting victims (Via Eastern New Mexico News) This is awful. My thoughts w anyone impacted. pic.twitter.com/UQFRvl6AHU
— Royale Da - KOAT (@RoyaleKOAT) August 28, 2017
At least one victim was taken to Clovis Municipal Airport for transport to Lubbock, Texas via air ambulance, the Eastern New Mexico News reported.
Officials at the library could not be reached to comment.
Clovis, which has a population of about 40,000, is around 190 miles (306 km) east of Albuquerque near the Texas border and is home to Cannon Air Force Base.
The base, about eight miles west of the town, is the location of the 27th Special Operations Wing of the Air Force. Officials at the base did not immediately respond to a request for comment.