By Helen Pow A heroic teacher talked a shooter, aged just 12, into dropping his weapon this morning, just moments after the child walked into a packed gymnasium and opened fire at his classmates, leaving a 12-year-old boy fighting for life and a 13-year-old girl in serious condition. After the first shots rang out at Berrendo Middle School, the unidentified educator was quick to react, throwing himself towards the armed youngster and convincing him to lay his shotgun on the ground, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and Roswell ISD superintendent Tom Burris revealed in a Tuesday afternoon press conference. 'The student was quickly stopped by one staff member who walked right up to him and asked him to put down the firearm which he did,' Governor Martinez told reporters.
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Roswell police said the suspected shooter was arrested Tuesday at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell
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Two students, including a 12-year-old boy thought to be the shooter's target, have been critically or seriously injured
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The school was placed on lockdown and terrified parents were told to collect their children from a nearby mall
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The shooter opened fire at 8:11 a.m. and Roswell PD posted word of the incident on its Facebook page soon after
@placeholder added: 'In the 10 seconds that transpired from the time this thing started until the teacher had control of the weapon there was no cowardice, there was protection for our kids.'