In a shocking incident at an Albuquerque courthouse, two men attacked a murder defendant in the midst of a court hearing, leading to a chaotic brawl. The violent altercation occurred on Friday at the Second Judicial District Court in Bernalillo County. Surveillance footage captured the intense scene, where one of the attackers, Carlos Lucero, rushed at the defendant, Alexander Ortiz, and was followed by another man, Pete Ysasi.
Lucero’s motivations were made clear during the attack when he shouted, “He killed my niece like a coward” and “It was worth every moment.” These statements revealed the emotional distress that led to the violent outburst. Both Lucero and Ysasi now face charges for battery upon a peace officer and unlawful assault on a jail after injuring an officer who tried to intervene.
The defendant, Alexander Ortiz, is charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Alianna J. Farfan, 20, who was fatally shot in her bedroom. Ortiz had reportedly shot Farfan following a troubled relationship. During the court incident, Lucero and Ysasi’s assault on Ortiz caused a disruption, as their punches landed on the defendant. The incident escalated quickly, with multiple individuals involved in the melee.
The footage shows Lucero, dressed in dark-colored clothing, getting up from his seat in the second row of the gallery, leaping over the partition, and sprinting toward Ortiz. The momentum of the attack caused both men and a law enforcement officer to fall out of frame. Ysasi followed quickly behind Lucero, joining the altercation. According to authorities, both attackers struck Ortiz multiple times, and all three men involved sustained lacerations in the chaos.
A third person also joined the commotion. Ortiz’s father was identified as the individual who attempted to break up the fight. This added another layer of confusion to the already violent scene. Despite the best efforts of law enforcement and other individuals present, the brawl was allowed to continue for a short while before authorities managed to regain control.
Following the incident, both Lucero and Ysasi were arrested. They were later released from custody, with Lucero being freed on Saturday and Ysasi on Sunday. Lucero and Ysasi’s cases are still pending, with a status conference for their legal proceedings set for March 5.
The courthouse brawl and the emotional motivations behind the attack highlight the extreme toll that violent crime can take on families and the lengths some individuals will go to in seeking justice. The attack also underscores the unpredictable nature of courtroom situations, where tensions can quickly boil over into violence. The incident has left many in Albuquerque in shock, raising concerns about security measures in place to protect individuals involved in high-stakes criminal cases.
Ortiz’s murder trial is expected to continue, with the court proceedings likely to draw continued attention due to the extreme emotions involved. Families and the public continue to grapple with the tragic loss of Alianna J. Farfan and the events that have unfolded in the courtroom.
