ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KOAT) – A murder suspect appeared in court for a hearing on Friday in Albuquerque.
It was a routine proceeding, but that changed.
The courtroom video shows how things spiraled after a family member of the victim sparked a melee.
It seemed like an ordinary court hearing in room 420 of the 2nd District Court.
Alexander Ortiz stood before a judge, accused of murdering Alianna Farfan.
All of a sudden, chaos broke out when police say Carlos Lucero, the victim’s uncle, jumped over the courtroom gate and started to punch Ortiz.
Ortiz and the officer next to him fell to the ground, but a second man, who police identified as Pete Ysasi, then joined the brawl and also attacked Ortiz.
Police say Ortiz’s father also joined the scrum to defend his son. The elder Ortiz punched Ysasi and Lucero.
The melee went on for about a minute with more people rushing in.
Eventually, deputies restored order, handcuffing Lucero, Ysasi and Ortiz’s father.
Ortiz was taken out of the courtroom.
Lucero and Ysasi were both charged with felonies, which included battery upon a peace officer and assault on a jail.
According to the criminal complaint, Lucero explained why he did it.
“He killed my niece like a coward” and “it was worth every moment,” Lucero said, according to court documents.
Meanwhile, Ortiz’s father told officers he was trying to “break up the fight.”
The two who attacked Ortiz were released from jail on their own recognizance.
A plea hearing for Ortiz was reset for Friday with extra security requested.
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