KIRTLAND, N.M. – Police arrested two teens at Kirtland Central High School and charged them with felony aggravated battery for allegedly flicking a metal pellet at a teacher during class.

San Juan County Sheriff’s Office detective Lt. Kyle Lincoln told The Daily Times that officials placed the high school on a preventative shelter-in-place lockdown for two hours Wednesday – from about 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. – after a teacher was struck with a metal pellet typically used in pellet guns.

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The pellet was not fired from a pellet gun, but rather flicked at the teacher by a student in class. The sheriff’s investigation ultimately turned up two students responsible for flicking the pellets at the teacher and other students in class, Lincoln said.

Police contend they also found a bottle of booze in the backpack of one of the alleged flickers.

“Today at 8:03 am, deputies responded to Kirtland High School in reference to a teacher being shot with a pellet gun during class. The investigation showed that the teacher was hit with a pellet that was flicked at her as opposed to being shot from a pellet gun. Deputies and Detectives found over 12 pellets throughout the classroom,” the sheriff’s office posted to its Facebook page Wednesday.

“16 year-old Dominic Benally of Kirtland, was arrested and booked into San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center on Aggravated Battery on a School Official, Intervening with the Educational Process and Possession of alcohol by a minor. 15 year-old Darius Lee of Fruitland, was booked into San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center for Aggravated Battery on a School Official and Intervening with the Educational Process.”

The aggravated battery and possession of alcohol charges are felonies, while the others are misdemeanors, according to the Times.

A spokesman for the Central Consolidated School District told KOB the teacher struck by the pellet was shaken, but is fine. Officials believe the students either flicked the pellets by hand or used a rubber band.

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Administrators sent a notice about the incident to parents today, according to a district statement cited by the Times.

“That is disrespect!” Nona Chase wrote in response to the sheriff’s department’s Facebook post. “They could of flicked the pellet at the face or eyes. What is wrong with kids … these days? All falls back on their home life and what they were taught at home. No respect at all!”

“The fact is we ALL have made some stupid choices as teenagers. We can’t blame it on our raising (all the time) we can’t blame it on anything other than adolescence. If you continue to blame this behavior on movies, games, music ect., it gives our youth an excuse!” Adrian Frank posted.  “Only difference now is that instead of getting their butts whipped and made to do some good ol manual labor, they get to miss school and placed in the ‘system.’”

“Wow he now has a felony arrest on his record for something that could have been taken care of in school,” Steve Cox added.

“Good, make sure these boys (are held) accountable for their actions,” Oliva Chandler countered.