Authorities investigate deadly shooting, dog attack in Mora County

MORA, N.M. — The Mora Independent School District canceled classes Wednesday as authorities investigate a deadly shooting and a dog attack.

The deadly shooting happened near the school, around 7:28 p.m. Tuesday. However, it didn’t involve any students.  

“The Mora County Sheriff’s Office were first on scene,” said Undersheriff Joey Romero with the Mora County Sheriff’s Office. “Sheriff Padilla, along with two deputies, responded to an individual that was armed and barricaded at that time.”

Inside a home directly behind the school campus Tuesday night. A criminal complaint shows 20-year-old Jacob Alcon shot his older brother Jerome Alcon multiple times with a rifle, killing him.

The suspect’s 17-year-old brother, a Mora High School senior, reportedly witnessed the shooting and told a friend to call police. 

New Mexico State Police is now heading that investigation. 

Around the same time in Holman, Mora County deputies were called out to a dog attack at a home day care involving a Mora Elementary first-grader.

“An 8-year-old female getting attacked by—what seems to be two German shepherds,” said Romero. “The 8-year-old female was alert and conscious. She did have large lacerations to the back of her head, also lacerations to her body.”

Romero says first responders flew the 8-year-old to UNMH, where she is responding to treatment and is no longer in critical condition.

As for the dogs:

“They are currently being quarantined at this moment until further investigation is completed,” Romero said. 

The Mora School superintendent called in a crisis team to provide counseling services to any student or staff when classes resume Thursday. 

Both of these investigations are ongoing.