Suspect in custody after shooting at Albuquerque Convention Center

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Gunfire ended a high school graduation ceremony at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Wednesday.

Christian Bencomo, 21, was arrested after police said he shot his stepmother.

According to APD, the victim was there to watch her biological son graduate. She reportedly told officers when she went to hug Bencomo, he pulled out a gun and shot her in the neck.

Police said a witness saw Bencomo raise his leg as if he was going to stomp on the victim. That's when the witness grabbed Bencomo by the belt and managed to pull him back. Another passerby then intervened and held him until officers arrived.

The shooting occurred Wednesday at the Southwest Secondary Learning Center's graduation ceremony. It is part of Southwest Charter School in Albuquerque and the ceremony was held at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Mary Ward spoke exclusively with KOB 4. She is a local pastor who attended the ceremony and supported a graduate from her church. She said the entire evening was great until the end of the ceremony.

“They had made it through the entire program. It was at the very end, the students had just received their diplomas and when they received their diplomas they were also presented with a rose. And right after that, there was supposed to be a ceremony, and they said, 'OK, students, give the rose to someone who influenced you, someone who gave meaning to you,' something like that,” he told Station. “Suddenly there was this big bang and we all got quiet, looked around, and most of us, it turned out, thought it was just a balloon, a celebratory balloon. But then suddenly they started shouting, “Down, down!” And it's just overwhelming. This situation is so scary.”

Ward recorded video of police dragging a man from the convention center shortly after the shooting.

Ward says she drove this woman's family back to a local hotel and they claimed the shooter was the victim's stepson.

KOB 4 reached out to the school Wednesday evening but has not yet received a response.