Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Former city council candidate charged in New Mexico protest shooting

Bernalillo

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office via AP

In this undated photo provided by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is Stephen Ray Baca. Albuquerque police say they have arrested a man in a shooting that happened as protesters tried to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador outside a museum. Police said 31-year-old Baca was arrested on suspicion of aggravated battery in the Monday, June 15, 2020, shooting that critically wounded a man.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A former city council candidate has been arrested and charged after police say he shot and critically injured a protester during a demonstration calling for the removal of the "La Jornada" sculpture in front of the Albuquerque Museum Monday night.

Steven Ray Baca, 31, was booked Tuesday morning and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon with a firearm enhancement.

Police say 39-year-old Scott Williams was shot several times in the torso and is in critical but stable condition at University of New Mexico Hospital.

In a statement through their attorney, Laura Schauer Ives, Williams' family said he has "devoted his life to seeking equality and justice for all."

"When Steven Baca repeatedly attacked peaceful protesters in Albuquerque last night, Scott took bullets for the community he cares about," the family wrote in a statement. "While he did, the Albuquerque Police Department hid behind the Albuquerque Museum, refused to respond to multiple requests for help, and only sent officers in once shots were fired."

In 2019, Baca, the son of a former Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputy, ran on a platform that was critical of the current city leadership and existing federal settlement agreements that impose restrictions on law enforcement. He called local officials "complete wimps when it comes to fighting crime." He lost in the six-way race to represent downtown.

The shooting occurred when a peaceful protest escalated as demonstrators called for the removal of the controversial sculpture depicting conquistador Juan de Oñate in front of the museum on Mountain near Rio Grande.

Members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, a self-described civilian militia group, showed up to protect the statue and intervened as protesters tried to remove it with a pickaxe and chain.

Video obtained by the Journal shows a large crowd gathering and chanting in the street.

A man who appears to be Baca can be seen moving through the crowd and then violently throwing a woman to the ground.

That's when the other protesters began to advance on him. According to a criminal complaint, a detective viewed video from a bystander that appeared to be showing Baca "in what appears to be a manner in which to protect the statue from the protesters."

"Steven was similarly recorded leaving the area of the statue toward the street interacting with the crowd," the detective wrote in the complaint. "However, his specific type of interaction with the crowd is unknown at this time."

An undercover police detective was stationed in the area and saw several protesters pursue Baca as he backed away from them, "utilizing pepper spray to douse the oncoming crowd." According to the complaint several protesters "appeared to maliciously pursue" Baca, struck him with a longboard and tackled him to the ground.

"A second male is observed holding the end of the longboard with two hands and swinging it toward the area of Steven's head and upper body," the detective wrote in the complaint.

"At this time, a series of gunshots are heard, and the longboard is dropped to the ground. Steven is recorded as holding a black-colored semi-automatic handgun and firing several shots."

Williams, who police said had hit Baca with the longboard, was struck several times in the torso.

"After discharging the weapon, Steven is seen manipulating the firearm before placing it on the ground, sitting away from the gun and utilizing his own personal cellphone," the detective wrote in the complaint. "The video recording did not depict any physical injuries on Steven's person sustained from the longboard strikes."

Albuquerque Police Department tactical units arrived and took Baca and several men who appeared to be members of the civil guard into custody. It's unclear what connection Baca has to the militia group. An APD spokesman said the FBI is assisting in the investigation.

The shooting sparked outrage and condemnation from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and city and state officials. The controversial Oñate statue has since been taken down.