Suspect arrested after Bernalillo shooting, schools closed, Rail Runner halted

A road rage shooting near the 550 Rail Runner station sent Bernalillo into a morning disruption that closed schools, suspended train service and ended with a suspect in custody.

Bernalillo police said the first 911 call came in around 4:49 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, after a caller reported someone shooting at a vehicle near U.S. Highway 550 and North Hill Road. Police said the caller’s vehicle was hit by gunfire, setting off a response that quickly spread across the Town of Bernalillo and into the county’s main commute corridor.

Officers found the suspect near the 550 Rail Runner station and chased him on foot, but briefly lost sight of him before locating him again near Bernalillo High School. During that encounter, police said the suspect pointed a firearm at officers and officers fired. No officers were struck, and the suspect was taken into custody.

The police activity forced Bernalillo Public Schools to change course twice. The district first announced a two-hour delay, then canceled classes for Tuesday after buses could not leave the transportation lot near Bernalillo High School. The shutdown left families scrambling before sunrise and turned a single violent encounter into a countywide school-day interruption.

Rail Runner Express service was also suspended through the Bernalillo area while officers searched for the suspect and cleared the scene near the station. The disruption hit a stretch of Sandoval County that many residents use daily for work, school and appointments, underscoring how quickly a shooting near the rail line can ripple through the morning routine.

The FBI, the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office and the Rio Rancho Police Department assisted in the investigation. New Mexico State Police were reported to be investigating the officer-involved shooting, which added another layer to an already fast-moving case.

In a local television interview, one man described the ordeal as a regular carpool meet-up that suddenly turned into a life-threatening situation. He said the fact that it happened in a residential area early in the morning made it especially upsetting.

By Wednesday, authorities had arrested the suspect, bringing a temporary end to a scene that shut down schools, halted rail service and forced law enforcement agencies to comb the area around one of Bernalillo’s most recognizable transit points.