Chaos broke out in a New Mexico courtroom after relatives of a murdered woman lunged at her accused killer – sparking a melee.
The violence erupted when Carlos Lucero, 40, and Pete Ysasi, 51, leaped over a barrier at Bernalillo County District Court and charged at murder suspect Alexander Segura Ortiz, 21, during a Friday hearing.
Security cameras captured the calamity, starting with the dramatic moment Lucero sprinted towards Ortiz while a police officer tried to protect the the alleged murder.
As Lucero, Ortiz and the officer all toppled over onto the ground, Ysasi walked over and joined in on the attack.
Other family members and cops rushed to try and diffuse the altercation, which only escalated from there.
A woman was seen unsuccessfully pulling at Ortiz’s father’s shirt after he tried to intervene, KRQE reported.
Ysasi began wrestling Ortiz’s father before Lucero and another man piled on top of them, all while a police officer had tackled Ortiz down in the corner.
One of the women involved took a folding chair and used it to whack the cop and Ortiz.
Ysasi began wrestling Ortiz’s father before Lucero and another man piled on top of them all while a police officer had tackled Ortiz down in the corner
Finally, everyone dispersed when the officer pulled out a gun
The violence erupted when Carlos Lucero, 40, and Pete Ysasi, 51, leaped over a barrier at Bernalillo County District Court
Finally, everyone dispersed when the officer pulled out a gun. But just as the brawl seemed to come to an end, Ortiz’s father gave Ysasi a final kick in the face.
‘He killed my niece like a coward,’ Lucero told police, referring to Ortiz, after his arrest.
He also said that his violent attempt on the alleged killer was ‘worth every moment,’ KRQE reported.
Lucero and Ysasi were arrested from the courtroom and charged with battery on a peace officer and assault on a jail, according to KOAT.
They have since been released on their own recognizance, meaning they did not have to pay bail, but they must appear in court when required, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
Based on their mugshot photos, Ysasi was relatively unscathed by the multi-person fight. However, Lucero was not as lucky.
Lucero was pictured with a swollen black-and-blue eye and scratches all over his face.
‘This is just one more incident that we continue to deal with, these are the types of things that we see regularly,’ Katina Watson, the CEO of the Second Judicial District Court, told KRQE.
Alexander Segura Ortiz, 21, has been accused of murdering both his ex-girlfriend Alianna Faran and Nicole Maldonado within days of one another
A woman tried to stop the chaos and pulled at Ortiz’s father’s shirt during the brawl
Lucero, seen charging at Ortiz, told police the attack was ‘worth every moment’
Ortiz was arrested in February 2024 for charges related to the death of his ex-girlfriend Alianna Faran (pictured)
‘I really want to give recognition to the MDC officer who was caught in the middle of this and he did everything he could to ensure the safety of everyone.’
Ortiz was arrested in February 2024 for charges related to the death of his ex-girlfriend Alianna Faran.
Faran was shot in the face and killed in her Northeast Heights apartment on January 11, 2024, KRQE reported.
Investigators said the two had an abusive relationship and Ortiz was mad at Faran the day he allegedly took her life.
Ortiz also stands accused of murdering Nicole Maldonado outside of a supermarket just days after Faran’s death.
According to the City of Albuquerque, detectives searched Ortiz’s home after he was taken into custody.
They reportedly found several parts of a .40 caliber handgun, 50-round drum magazine, Glock 22 .40cal slide, .40cal ammunition and a cellphone.