'I'm in trouble:' NM teacher had students fight each other with swords, lawsuit claims

Albuquerque, NM — It is a sight you would not expect to see inside a school classroom, students fighting each other swords.

But that is exactly what happened inside one high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico about two years ago, and it was all caught on camera.

One of the students was injured and her family is now suing the school district for allowing it to happen.

"Our client says the teacher came in and said I have a surprise for you guys,” the student’s attorney said.

That surprise was teenagers fighting with swords inside a chemistry classroom at Volcano Vista High School.

The teacher is seen on camera resting her hip against a podium as she watches her students charge each other with the weapons.

“If I’m a parent, and I take my kid to school, I think they're going to be safe. I think the teachers are going to protect them and here, absolutely the opposite happened."

Attorney Jessica Hernandez says the incident happened in May of 2022 and she is now representing a student who was severely hurt moments after the video was taken, as her right hand was reportedly sliced in the process.

"I’ve talked to her surgeon, and he described the way he was doing the surgery inside, he could actually feel where the sword had made a mark in the bone. She may not ever regain full motion or strength in her right hand, and she is right-handed."

The family is now suing Albuquerque public schools for allowing this to happen.

The civil lawsuit states that the teacher set a two-minute timer for each sword fight and claims that once the student was injured, the teacher said, "I’m in trouble," and ordered her students to delete any videos of the incident.

"911 was not called for about half an hour after this happened, which is shocking. This little girl is bleeding in a classroom and paramedics are not called for 30 minutes. So those are procedures that APS needs to address to make sure that first, this doesn't happen, but if a student is injured, what are you going to do about it immediately to make sure they get the care that they need."

The school district says that they cannot comment on any pending litigation.

The teacher is no longer employed with the school system, however, it's unclear if she was let go as a result of the incident.

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