Murder suspect attacked by victim's family in courtroom brawl

2025-02-06 02:34:00

Abstract: Ortiz's murder hearing of Farfan in Albuquerque erupted in chaos. Farfan's uncle, Carlos Lucero, attacked Ortiz, joined by Pete Isassi. Ortiz's father, Jore, intervened. Lucero & Isassi face felony charges.

Courtroom 420 of the Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque, New Mexico, convened around 9:30 a.m. on Friday for the hearing of Alexander Ortiz, who is charged with the murder of Arrianna Farfan. During the proceedings, an unexpected incident occurred, causing temporary chaos in the courtroom.

Police stated that Farfan's uncle, Carlos Lucero, suddenly jumped over the courtroom railing and began assaulting Ortiz. Ortiz and the officer standing next to him fell to the ground, and subsequently, police indicated that another man, Pete Isassi, joined the fray. The scene was chaotic, and the situation quickly escalated.

According to police reports, Ortiz's father, Jore Ortiz, also joined the brawl, attempting to protect his son. Jore began hitting Lucero and Isassi. The melee lasted approximately one minute, with more people rushing into the courtroom. Eventually, court marshals subdued Lucero, Isassi, and Jore, restoring order to the court, while Ortiz was removed from the courtroom.

Both Lucero and Isassi were charged with felonies, including battery upon a law enforcement officer and battery in jail. According to the criminal complaint, Lucero explained his actions, stating "he killed my niece like a coward" and that "it was worth every moment." Meanwhile, Jore told police that he was simply trying to "stop the fight."