Wild video shows a shackled murder suspect being chased down and attacked in court by the dead woman’s uncle, who allegedly said it was “worth every moment,” according to cops.
Alexander Ortiz appeared before a judge in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Friday for a procedural hearing related to the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Alianna Farfan, 20, whom he’s accused of shooting dead in her bedroom last year. He is also charged with murdering another woman a week later.
As he stands beside his attorney, a man in the gallery — later identified as Farfan’s uncle, Carlos Lucero — suddenly hops over the barrier and rushes Ortiz, video obtained by KRQE shows.
Despite the suspect turning and trying to run, with court security by his side, Lucero appears to take him to the floor and start throwing punches.
During the melee, another man — identified as Pete Ysasi — also runs from the gallery and joins the attack, seemingly throwing a kick at the suspect just off-screen.
The suspect’s father, Joeray Ortiz, then calmly walks up and begins throwing punches in an attempt to “break up the fight,” according to the video and police reports also shared by KRQE.
A corrections officer rushes in to help as lawyers, other defendants and members of the public watch, stunned, before law enforcement eventually breaks it up.
Ortiz — who is accused of being abusive to his ex before she was killed — suffered cuts to his face in the fracas, according to the police report.
Both Lucero, 40, and Ysasi, 51, were charged with assault and battery of a peace officer. It was not immediately clear how Ysasi was connected to the case.
Lucero later told police that Ortiz “killed my niece like a coward” — adding that “it was worth every moment,” according to the police report.
Ortiz is charged with killing Farfan at her apartment in January last year, according to KOAN.
Friends in the apartment heard the gunshot — then found her shot in the face after busting down a door, the police report said. Ortiz allegedly fled through a window.
Ortiz is additionally a suspect in the murder of Nicole Maldonado at the Adam Food Market on January 17, 2024.
He was arrested by a SWAT team that tracked him down at a local residence.
He’s accused of Farfan’s and Maldonado’s murders as well as a number of other charges related to their deaths.
Albuquerque court officials said increased security is needed after numerous recent violent outbreaks.
“This is just one more incident that we continue to deal with, these are the types of things that we see regularly,” Katina Watson, CEO, Second Judicial District Court, told the outlet.
Watson thanked the Metropolitan Detention Center officer “who was caught in the middle of this and he did everything he could to ensure the safety of everyone.”
