Murder suspect attacked by victim's family in courtroom brawl

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 accused of murdering Arriana Farfan. During the proceedings, an unexpected incident occurred, leading to chaos in the courtroom.

According to police reports, 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 as a result. Subsequently, another man, Pete Isassi, joined the fray, causing the scene to spiral out of control.

Police reports indicate that Ortiz's father, Jore Ortiz, also joined the melee, with the intention of protecting his son. Jore began striking Lucero and Isassi. The disturbance lasted for approximately one minute, with more people rushing in, creating widespread confusion and disorder.

Eventually, court marshals subdued the riot and handcuffed Lucero, Isassi, and Jore. Simultaneously, Ortiz was escorted out of the courtroom for his safety. Lucero and Isassi were both charged with felonies, including battery upon a peace officer and battery in jail.

According to the criminal complaint, Lucero explained his actions by stating, "He killed my niece like a coward," and "It was worth every moment." Meanwhile, Jore told police that he was simply trying "to stop the fight" and protect his son from further harm.