Former newsman remembered fondly

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The former New Mexico journalist injured Wednesday in a shooting at a Phoenix office building has passed away after being on life support for two days.

Mark Hummels, 43, worked for the Journal North and Santa Fe New Mexican until 2001, when he left New Mexico to attend law school in Arizona.

Hummels was among three people shot Wednesday by 70-year-old Arthur Douglas Harmon.

Harmon was at the office complex for a mediation session regarding a lawsuit he was involved in.

Arizona police say Harmon opened fire after the session killing 48-year-old CEO Steve Singer and critically injuring Hummels, who was representing Singer.  A woman was also injured in the shooting but she survived.

Harmon’s body was found in Mesa, Arizona the next day.  Officials say the suspected shooter had killed himself.

The law firm Hummels worked for said the former New Mexican was a rising star in the profession.  Hummels was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 2005 and hired right out of law school to serve as a clerk for the Arizona Supreme Court.  He then went on to work for the Phoenix Law Firm.

Back here in New Mexico friends and coworkers are remembering Hummels fondly.

Hummels covered local and state government for the New Mexican in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.  He worked for the Journal North for a short time before returning to the New Mexican.

Rob Dean, Editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican , spoke on Hummels death Friday.

“His death is a real shock and tragedy, a senseless crime and the shock is being felt by former colleagues at this newspaper,” Dean told KRQE News 13.

The firm Hummels worked for said he was also a very giving person and did quite a bit of legal work for free. 

Hummels leaves behind a wife, 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.