Two Teens Shot and Skeleton Head Found in Otero County

There are reports and authorities have confirmed 2 teens involved in a shooting incident resulting in injuries  requiring treatment in an El Paso area hospital. Due to the individuals involved being minors, names are not released and details are limited, the incident is part of ongoing investigation. 

And in another unrelated incident on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, a subject reported to the Otero County Sheriff’s Office lobby that she believed she had located a skull while hiking in the creek bed along the Alamo Canyon Trail.

Detectives responded to the area and confirmed the remains were human. The Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) was notified.

On the morning of Thursday, January 22, 2026, the OMI Anthropology Team responded and successfully recovered the skull, which was partially compacted in the soil. Following an on-scene assessment, the team determined the remains were ancient, estimated to be well over 100 years old, and exhibited apparent cultural markings.

The skull was collected by the OMI Anthropology Team and will be released to the State Historic Preservation Office for appropriate handling and preservation.

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