Araceli Ara Tena

Araceli “Ara” Tena was a 13-year-old girl, the oldest of three children, remembered by her family as a very good girl, the best she could be. Her life was tragically cut short on a Friday morning, November 19, 1999, in the lobby of Deming Middle School in Deming, New Mexico. The Hispanic teen was a student at the school, as was the boy who would take her life.

That morning, 12-year-old Victor Cordova Jr., a fellow student who commuted from his home in Palomas, Mexico, brought a .22-caliber Colt revolver to school. He fired a single shot into the school's lobby, striking Araceli in the back of the head. She was rushed to a hospital in El Paso, Texas, where she died from her injury the following day. The shooting sent shockwaves through the small city of Deming, a community unaccustomed to such violence. In the aftermath, it was reported that Cordova had boasted to a classmate the day before that he was going to "make history blasting this school," but the classmate was too scared to tell any adults.

Cordova’s family said he had been struggling with depression and a violent temper, particularly after the death of his mother from cancer earlier that year. His father stated that his son had intended to take his own life at school but that his arm was bumped, causing the gun to discharge accidentally. Police, however, found no evidence to support this version of events. Cordova was taken into custody and initially charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated assault. Due to his age, he could not be charged as an adult under New Mexico state law at the time.

The investigation was handled by local police, who focused on Cordova as the sole perpetrator. In April 2000, he pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder. During his sentencing hearing in December 2000, Cordova, then 13, addressed the court. "I would just like to say that I'm really sorry for what I did," he said. Both the prosecution and defense agreed that he was suffering from depression and required psychiatric treatment.

Araceli’s parents also spoke at the hearing, expressing their profound and unending grief. Her father, Manuel Tena, speaking through an interpreter, told the judge, "He destroyed our life, mine and my family's life. Nothing is ever going to be the same. We used to be very happy, but not anymore." As the sentence was delivered, Araceli's mother, Elvia Tena, cried out "Assassin, assassin, coward" in Spanish.

A state district judge sentenced Victor Cordova Jr. to two years in state custody. The terms of the sentence stipulated that he could be held until his 21st birthday, with his case subject to annual reviews after the initial two years. The judge recommended he be sent to the Sequoiah Adolescent Treatment Center in Albuquerque for treatment.

In the days following the shooting, the Deming community mourned the loss of Araceli. About 150 students and adults formed a human chain around the middle school, holding hands and praying. A vigil was held, with candles, red roses, and teddy bears placed on the school grounds in her memory. Counselors were brought in to support the 750 students when classes resumed. The case concluded with the conviction and sentencing of Victor Cordova Jr. for second-degree murder.