2017 Aztec High School shooting
The Aztec High School shooting was a school shooting and murder–suicide that occurred on December 7, 2017, at Aztec High School in Aztec, New Mexico, United States. The perpetrator, William Atchison, a 21-year-old former student, entered the school in the morning disguised as a student and hid in the school restroom. He was discovered before he could launch a major attack, but fatally shot two students before killing himself. Investigators believe that the quick actions of the teachers in barricading doors to the classrooms helped prevent mass casualties.
| 2017 Aztec High School shooting | |
|---|---|
Aztec High School in 2008 | |
Aztec High School Aztec High School (New Mexico) Aztec High School Aztec High School (the United States) | |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 36°49′15″N 107°59′26″W |
| Date | December 7, 2017 8:04 – 8:16 a.m. (UTC–7) |
| Target | Students and staff at Aztec High School |
Attack type | School shooting, murder-suicide |
| Weapon | Glock 19 Gen 4 9mm pistol |
| Deaths | 3 (including the perpetrator) |
| Perpetrator | William Atchison |
| Defender | Katie Potter |
| Motive | Unknown |
Atchison had previously been investigated by the FBI for threatening to commit a mass shooting and had previously been in contact with the 2016 Munich gunman. The investigation was dropped after it was determined he did not own a firearm. The motive for the shooting is disputed, with some organizations arguing the shooting was motivated by far-right extremism and incel ideology, while the sheriff's office stated that there was no evidence the shooting was related to Atchison's views, only that he had "serious issues" and was simply "hell bent on mass casualties for his own personal notoriety".