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Man arrested in shooting during Albuquerque statue protest

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. (Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office via AP) The Associated Press

Construction workers remove a statue of Spanish explorer Juan de OÃ±ate from in front of the Albuquerque Museum, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in Albuquerque, N.M. The statue was at the center of a protest Monday, June 15, where one man was shot. (Jim Thompson/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) The Associated Press

Albuquerque police detain members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, an armed civilian group, following the shooting of a man during a protest over a statue of Spanish conquerer Juan de OÃ±ate on Monday, June 15, 2020, in Albuquerque, N.M. A confrontation erupted between protesters and a group of armed men who were trying to protect the statue before protesters wrapped a chain around it and began tugging on it while chanting: 'Tear it down.' One protester repeatedly swung a pickax at the base of the statue. Moments later a few gunshots could be heard down the street and people started yelling that someone had been shot. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) The Associated Press

Protesters attach a chain to a statue of Spanish conquerer Juan de OÃ±ate in Albuquerque, N.M., Monday, June 15, 2020. One man was shot during an exchange between protesters and armed members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, a civilian group trying to protect the monument. (Anthony Jackson/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) The Associated Press

Albuquerque police detain members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, an armed civilian group, Monday, June 15, 2020, in Albuquerque, N.M. A confrontation erupted between protesters and a group of armed men who were trying to protect a statue of Spanish conquerer Juan de OÃ±ate before protesters wrapped a chain around it and began tugging on it while chanting: 'Tear it down.' One protester repeatedly swung a pickax at the base of the statue. Moments later a few gunshots could be heard down the street and people started yelling that someone had been shot. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) The Associated Press

Demonstrators climb the statue of Don Juan de Onate in Old Town in Albuquerque, N.M., while an armed member of the New Mexico Civil Guard stands by during a protest calling for the removal of the likeness of the controversial New Mexico explorer Monday, June 15, 2020. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) The Associated Press

This bronze statue of Don Juan de OÃ±ate leading a group of Spanish settlers from an area near what is now Ciudad Chihuahua, Mexico, to what was then the northern most province of New Spain in 1598 stands outside the Albuquerque Museum in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, June 12, 2020. The collection of statues, which includes an indigenous guide, a priest, women settlers and soldiers, is titled "La Jornada." Two public statues of Spanish conqueror Juan de OÃ±ate in New Mexico are drawing renewed attention and criticism as memorials erected in honor of Confederate leaders and other historical figures worldwide become a focus of protests. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan) The Associated Press

Rio Arriba County workers remove the bronze statue of Spanish conquerer Juan de OÃ±ate from its pedestal in front of a cultural center in Alcalde, N.M., Monday, June 15, 2020. Crowds of people for and against the removal lined Highway 68 near of the center. (Eddie Moore/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) The Associated Press

A man named Thantsideh (sunbird in his native Tewa language) stands on the pedestal built for a statue of Juan de OÃ±ate, as he argues wit fellow Hispanic residents of Northern New Mexico over the removal of the statue Monday, June 15, 2020, in Alcalde, N.M.. OÃ±ate violently established colonial outposts in the 16th century in the region and was the first European leader to settle there. County officials removed the statue Monday to avoid unrest ahead of a planned protest. (AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio) The Associated Press

A man named Thantsideh, sunbird in his native Tewa language, stands on the pedestal built for a statue of Juan de OÃ±ate, as he argues with fellow Hispanic residents of Northern New Mexico over the removal of the statue on Monday, June 15, 2020, in Alcalde, N.. OÃ±ate violently established colonial outposts in the 16th century in the region and was the first European leader to settle there. County officials removed the statue Monday to avoid unrest ahead of a planned protest. (AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio) The Associated Press

This bronze statue of Don Juan de Onate leading a group of Spanish settlers from an area near what is now Ciudad Chihuahua, Mexico, to what was then the northern most province of New Spain in 1598 stands outside the Albuquerque Museum in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, June 12, 2020. The collection of statues, which includes an indigenous guide, a priest, women settlers and soldiers, is titled "La Jornada." Two public statues of Spanish conqueror Juan de OÃ±ate in New Mexico are drawing renewed attention and criticism as memorials erected in honor of Confederate leaders and other historical figures worldwide become a focus of protests. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan) The Associated Press

Posted June 16, 2020 7:00 am

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN, CESAR ATTANSIO and MORGAN LEE

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A 31-year-old man has been arrested in a shooting that happened as protesters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, tried to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador outside a museum, police said Tuesday.

Police said Stephen Ray Baca was arrested and jailed on suspicion of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Baca was once a candidate for the Albuquerque City Council and is the son of a former Bernalillo County sheriff.

Baca had been among those trying to protect the statue when protesters 'œappeared to maliciously pursue him,'ť according to a criminal complaint. Video posted on social media showed protesters hitting Baca with a skateboard and punching him before he opened fire.

One man was shot and hospitalized Monday night in critical but stable condition, said Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos. A criminal complaint said the victim, Scott Williams, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the torso.

After the shooting, other armed people encircled Baca, the video showed. Online court records did not list an attorney for Baca who could comment on his behalf.

The shooting occurred near the scene of a Monday night confrontation between protesters and a group of armed men who were trying to protect the statue of Juan de OÃ±ate.

Protesters wrapped a chain around the statue and began tugging on it while chanting: 'œTear it down.'ť One protester repeatedly swung a pickax at the base of the statue.

Moments later, gunshots rang out down the street and people yelled that someone had been shot.

Two OÃ±ate statues have been a source of criticism for decades in the state.

OÃ±ate, who arrived in New Mexico in 1598, is celebrated as a cultural father figure in communities along the Upper Rio Grande that trace their ancestry to Spanish settlers. But he's also reviled for his brutality among Native Americans.

The shooting prompted the city to announce the statue would be removed until officials determine their next steps.

The Albuquerque Journal reports members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, a self-described civilian militia group, showed up to protect the statue and later intervened as protesters tried to remove it.

It's not clear if Baca was there with the group. He was dressed differently than members, some of whom wore camouflage, had tactical equipment and carried long guns.

Police Chief Michael Geier said investigators had received 'œreports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence.'ť

'œIf this is true, (we) will be holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, including federal hate group designation and prosecution," Geier said.

Police used tear gas and flash bangs to protect officers who intervened and detained Baca and the armed people who had surrounded him, Gallegos said. He said they were disarmed and taken into custody for questioning. Detectives were investigating with the help of the FBI.

'œThe shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city,'ť Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. 'œOur diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us."

Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham accused the armed people of being there to menace protesters and said there was no room in New Mexico for the escalation of 'œreckless, violent rhetoric.'ť

"The instigators this evening will be rooted out, they will be investigated, and they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,'ť she said.

The violence came hours after activists in northern New Mexico celebrated the removal of another likeness of OÃ±ate that was on public display at a cultural center in Alcalde.

Rio Arriba County officials removed it to safeguard it from possible damage and to avoid civil unrest ahead of a scheduled protest.

A forklift pried the massive bronze statue of OÃ±ate on horseback from a concrete pedestal. Cheers erupted among bystanders who viewed the memorial as an affront to indigenous people and an obstacle to greater racial harmony, though several people also arrived to defend the tribute to OÃ±ate.

Lee reported from Santa Fe. Attanasio reported from Alcalde. Associated Press writer Paul Davenport in Phoenix and Russell Contreras in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, contributed to this report.

___

Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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