Teen to face two first-degree murder charges

CLOVIS — The 16-year-old accused of killing two people and injuring four others when he opened fire Monday at the Clovis-Carver public library will face two first-degree murder charges and more, officials said in a Tuesday news conference.

Nathaniel Ray Jouett, a sophomore at Clovis High School, has not been formally charged but is being held at Clovis Juvenile Detention Center.

District Attorney Andrea Reeb said she will file a petition seeking adult sanctions against Jouett sometime before 1 p.m. today in District Court.

In addition to murder, he will be charged with assault with intent to commit a violent felony (four counts), aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (four counts) and one count of child abuse.

It wasn't clear if Jouett had an attorney.

Authorities also on Tuesday released the names of the shooting victims and said the four still hospitalized are expected to recover.

All were at University Medical Center in Lubbock:

• Jessica Thron, 30, a circulation assistant at the library, was in serious condition and had just completed surgery;

• Alexis Molina, 20, was in serious condition; her brother, Noah Molina, 10 was stable. Noah had been shot in the hand, Clovis Police Chief Doug Ford said;

• Howard Jones, 53, was in stable condition.

The Molinas and Jones were library patrons.

Police also confirmed that library employees Krissie Carter, 48, and Wanda Walters, 61, were killed in the attack, which The News reported Monday.

Police remained tight lipped on details about the shooting, but did say the shooter had two handguns.

Police would not confirm eyewitness reports that 30 or more shots were fired and said they did not have a motive for the shootings.

Gov. Susana Martinez attended the news conference and heaped praise on first responders, whom she called "our heroes."

She singled out Chief Ford, whom she said was "the first one to go in through those doors" as police stormed the library and arrested Jouett, who offered no resistance when they arrived.

Martinez said all victims in the shooting will have medical expenses paid for by the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission.

She said she has asked state police to provide any resources they can to help Clovis in connection with the shootings.

Clovis City Manager Tom Phelps said the governor earlier on Tuesday visited the shooting victims in Lubbock.

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