Video shows wild courtroom brawl as defendant is attacked in homicide case; 2 men and 1 woman arrested
A hearing in a New Mexico courtroom devolved into chaos when three people rushed the defendant in a homicide case, setting off a brawl with flying fists and kicks.
Courtroom video cameras recorded the Jan. 31 melee, which subsided as a law enforcement officer drew a stun gun and protected the defendant from further attack.
Felony charges were filed against two men: battery and assault on a public official. They apparently rushed the defendant in a fit of rage over the killing of a relative.
The first man to rush at the defendant was Carlos Lucero, who told deputies "he killed my niece like a coward," CBS affiliate KRQE reported. The second man was identified as Pete Ysasi, whose connection to the case was not immediately clear.
A woman, 34-year-old Jamie Lucero, was also arrested on the same charges, KRQE reported Thursday. The courtroom video showed her hitting the defendant and an officer with a chair.
The presence of corrections officers and other security details in courtrooms does not always keep the peace. Last year a defendant in a felony battery case in Nevada flung himself over a judge's bench and grabbed her hair, sparking a bloody brawl with court officials.
Katina Watson, court executive officer at New Mexico's Second Judicial District, told KRQE that "these are the types of things that we see regularly."
She praised an officer for reacting to ensure safety, without mention of potential security enhancements. The Associated Press sent a request to the court Thursday for comment on the fight and security precautions.
