Family Attacks Killer in Bloody Courtroom Brawl: Bodycam

Family members of a murder victim. charged the accused killer in open. court. Punches flew, a chair went. flying, a taser [music] came out. You. saw the chaos, but you didn't see what. happened after. >> I would do it again. What happened it. was worth every minute, every second. >> Newly released body cam [music] footage. we obtained is now showing us everything. the security cameras missed. Welcome to.

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So, if you've been watching Sidebar for. a while, and I hope that you have, you. will remember this crazy courtroom. moment. Okay? The one where family. members of a murder victim charged. across the room and started swinging at. the man who was accused of killing their. loved one. A corrections officer pulled. out his taser. The whole thing turned. into an all-out brawl. That video went. viral everywhere. But here's what you. might not remember or never knew in the. first place. The man they were going.

after, Alexander Ortiz, was already. facing a murder charge for killing his. girlfriend, Ali Al-Farfan. And while. police were searching for him, investigators say he killed another. woman just 6 days later. So, two. killings, one suspect, and a courtroom. that turned into a war zone. Look, you. saw the chaos, but you didn't see what. happened after the punches stopped. The. body cam footage we just obtained is now. going to take you inside the aftermath, the interviews, the bleeding. This one.

is wild, okay? Let me just tell you. right now, it's wild. Now, this brawl, it all sparked from something much. darker. So, we got to go back to January. 2024. According to the criminal. complaint, Alexander Ortiz was at his. girlfriend Ali Al's apartment on. Montgomery Boulevard in Albuquerque. Witnesses told police they heard. arguing, then a gunshot, and then a. bedroom window shattered from the. inside. Ortiz was gone. And when police. got inside, that is when they find Ali. Al already dead. But, here is where the.

case takes an even darker turn. Because. while detectives were still searching. for Ortiz, a woman named Nicole. Maldonado was shot and killed outside of. a grocery store. So, that was 6 days. after Ali Al's murder. And police. eventually tracked Ortiz to a residence. near that grocery store. He apparently. barricaded himself inside. When they got. him into custody, what they find? Weapons, ammunition, ballistics linked. those to the grocery store shooting, and.

Ortiz was ultimately charged with both. killings, both murders. Now, you fast. forward to January 2025. Now, more than. a year later, Ortiz is back in court for. a hearing, and the family is sitting in. the gallery. Security camera footage. captures this whole thing. Now, there's. no sound, but honestly, you don't really. need it to see the chaos, right? Ortiz. is standing next to his attorney at the. podium wearing an orange jumpsuit, and. that is when Carlos Lucero, the victim's. uncle, leaps over the barrier and makes. a beeline straight for Ortiz. And an.

officer tries to stop him. It's too. late. They collide. They crash to the. floor. Then Pete Saucy, that's the. victim's stepfather, he bursts through. the barrier in a white shirt, jumps into. the pile. A third person enters the. fray. This is Ortiz's father dressed in. all black, starts throwing punches. Family members in the gallery, they rush. in to try to break things up. The fight. only intensifies. There's a woman that. grabs a folding chair, starts swinging. it at both Ortiz and the officer trying.

to shield him. And then finally, an. officer pulls out what appears to be a. taser, and that's when everyone backs. off. Now, in the aftermath, you see Lucero, you. see Saucy wiping blood from their faces. Ortiz is on the ground. The hearing's. over, okay? The hearing's over before it. even really started. And that's what the. security cameras caught. Here's what. they didn't catch. >> JUST CALM DOWN. EVERYBODY STOP. >> CARLOS. >> LET'S GET HIM OUT OF HERE. >> [screaming]. >> THERE ARE NO.

THAT'S MY PHONE. >> WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? >> YOUR hand this way? That's my phone. That's what. Sweater? Okay. We're going to get everything under. control for a second, okay? I don't know. exactly what's going on. >> BACK UP. LET'S. >> I NEED TO SIT right here.

Sit down. >> Tell Carlos to arrive. >> This one, too? >> This one, too? >> This one, too? >> Around me. >> Both of them I ended up, you know, uh. >> Give me Give me your penis. >> I just want to say. All right, brother. What's your name?

>> Joe. >> [clears throat]. [snorts]. >> So, what what was your name, brother? >> Joe. >> Joe? Is that Joseph? >> Just Joe. >> J O E? What's your last name, Joe? >> Ortiz. >> What's your date of birth, sir? >> I'm going to wait until they get away. >> All right. Okay. Okay.

Do you want to stand up for me? I'll. walk somewhere. Pick my spot. Yes, sir. Hey, Malachi. For James, can you hand me. that sweater? That sweater. >> All right. >> Stop. >> Yeah, just give me a way from him. What's this one? Take me all the way from him.

Sir? >> Take me all the way from him. >> So, well, give me 1 second. Before we do. that, do [snorts] you have anything in. your pockets? >> No, sir. >> Wallet. >> I'm going to. get them off of my phone. >> [snorts]. >> Okay. So, like I said, we don't know what's. going on, dude. You're being detained at this time, all. right? But, we're going to have to. complete an investigation. >> Who was the guy in the white shirt? Who.

else? >> Brother-in-law. >> Where is he? >> I don't know. He's on the other side of the court. >> I think we we got like three detained in. there, for sure. >> Hey, do I still have something on. >> Yeah, you you you got a you got Looks. like you're bleeding from your face. We're going to get medical. checked just give me a minute. Well, we're away from everybody now. They're not leaving that area for a. little while. What you did. >> I just saw them attacking my son.

>> Is he in custody or. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> They were attacking me. They were all. over. >> That was the scene right after the. brawl. So, deputies swarming the. courtroom trying to separate everyone, trying to figure out who started it, who. was just trying to protect someone. You. can see there are officers removing the. defendant's father, uh Joe Ray Ortiz. We're going to come back to him later, by the way. But when they start pulling. people aside for interviews, the first. person they talked to? The uncle. >> Is my face still bleeding? >> You got a little bit. You got a little. bit of blood, [snorts] man. Uh I'm not.

going to lie to you, there's a little. bit. Well, I don't have an napkin on me, but. when we go out there, I'll get you some, okay? I promise. >> So, your niece here wearing on me? >> Yeah. Between the two, he shot her in the. face. >> That's awful. >> And he killed another girl 5 days later. He's got two murder charges. >> Oh, jeez. That's awful. That really is awful. I'm. sorry. >> You know, punks with guns. >> So, while we while we wait for medical. All right. Do you want to talk Do you.

want to talk to me about what happened? >> Um. >> If so, I have some questions. And. [snorts] uh before we before we answer. questions, I just wanted to advise you. of your rights, okay? All right. You've advised you of your your Miranda. rights, okay? >> Mhm. >> So, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you. in a court of law. You have the right to. consult an attorney before speaking to. to police or having an attorney present. during questioning now or in the future. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will. be appointed for you at no cost if you. wish. If you decide to answer my questions. [snorts].

now without a lawyer present, you will still have the right to stop. answering until you have an attorney. present. Knowing and understanding your. rights as I explained them to you, are. you willing to answer my questions. without an attorney present? >> Uh no, I'm going to invoke my. constitutional rights. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah, of course. >> Nothing against you, but. >> No, no, no. I I Your rights, but your rights, yeah. >> [snorts]. >> Yeah. >> Look good in the eye. >> Yeah.

>> Had them steel toes or something. >> Yeah. >> Man, brother, I was happy to be in. transport. >> So. >> I don't care what happened. It was worth. every minute. Every second. He killed my niece like a coward. Cuz she wouldn't answer the damn phone. for him and wouldn't wouldn't tell tell. her where she was. She wouldn't tell him where he was she. was. >> That's all. >> That's Carlos Lucero, Aliana's uncle, bleeding from the face, calm one second,

raging the next. But not everyone who jumped into that. brawl felt the same way. >> This guy that was here, I was already. over there trying to pull. my wife's brother off. >> So. >> Oh, that's what you said. He went back. from back here, he hit you, right? >> Yeah. >> He got you from this side. >> So what happened after. >> And that's what I just started I don't. know. I just started swinging. I pushed. him over somebody that was on the floor. >> But you said you were were you right. here? >> No, I was over there. >> Were you right here? >> Yeah, I was over there where they were. fighting, right in front of the party. >> Okay.

>> You know? >> So he came from all the way back here. >> Not all the way back here, but he was. already ready to do something. I seen the thing with Hawk and all that. here. >> So I know there was a really bad. >> I saw all of them was. They just were like, "Yeah, let these. whatever. They don't do nothing to these. people no more. I've been in prison my. whole life. You don't hurt girls or kids, man. >> Yeah, lower your voice. Lower your voice. down now. What did you say? I forgot. what's going on. >> He just Like. >> hurt girls. You don't hurt kids. You. don't hurt them. You don't hurt kids. You don't hurt girls.

>> No. Huh? Rita, who's out there? >> Hey, guys. >> We can take We can take him. >> What's your name, man? >> You know what? >> G. >> His name is G. I need to give you a. lecture before you guys leave. >> My hands are really. >> How is it fair that these Jews just get. away? >> They get They get out on probation, you. know? >> P. >> Like little kids. >> They're little kids. >> Lower your voice. >> I I know you're angry, but let me step. up. >> Let me see who's out there. >> Okay. Well, we can take him down the. elevator on the side.

Okay. >> No, man. >> Oh, P. I understand you're going through a lot. right now. But, you got to kind of relax so that I. need to try to get your side of the. story right. This way I can help. >> you everything, boss. I just. >> What? I know I know. >> I've been out of prison already 4 years. I'm not trying to get in trouble no. more. I'm teaching my life. I've been. dancing since 1992. >> I don't want to go back to the time that. we're. >> You out. We can have like another adult. conversation. I know you're mad about. this. I know you're mad about the whole. situation with your daughters. It's very understandable. And you're. going through a lot right now, okay?

>> I jumped over the my my wife's brother. To try to stop him and then this starts. hitting me then I get tased. I'm like, "What the. He Just to try to help P. >> Listen, P. >> Good thing is. >> Calm down. >> Yeah, bro. >> Sure. You know what? Once the witnesses. it's all going to get sorted out, all. right? It's too many But you don't even. get near us. >> Yeah. >> I'll try to deal with them now. >> Yeah, yeah, fuck them. >> You're already done nothing. >> But I listen. >> He said it was your daughter. What's her. name? >> Uh Aliana. >> Aliana deserves to have you sitting here. as not sitting back there with the.

handcuffs. Right? >> But when you see the person that shot. her and I and killed her sitting right. there, what would you do? >> P, >> What would you do? >> I pray I never have to go in there. I. pray that no one ever has to know it. I I'm sorry that you have to feel that. >> [clears throat]. >> Parents aren't designed to lose their. kids. You're stronger than me, I can tell you. that. Listen, P, we have somebody here who's. going to check you out, okay?

I just need you to calm down and check. you out, okay? >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> I'm going to try and get out of here. >> This is Pete. He got. a dry stun to the side and then I think. he got hit in the face and the head. You. think he's got a little bit of. adrenaline so he doesn't really know. what he's. >> Okay. I'm going to lift your shirt up real. quick, all right? Just make sure you don't have any marks. Do you want to go to the hospital by. ambulance? >> No, I'm fine. >> Why? >> Yeah. >> Are you hurting anywhere? >> No. >> [clears throat]. >> No.

>> Your face feels fine? >> Yeah. >> Any scratches on your. >> I can't see. uh out. Once a little bit when this. jumped over and hit me a little bit. >> Yeah. >> And then that guy started shocking me. and like you're shocking the wrong. person so I was like you just It was. happening so fast, you know what I mean? It just happened so fast, you know? >> Okay. >> It's just tough, man. Any irritations on this arm? >> On my shoulder. >> Are these all yours? >> I don't know. I felt my arm on my side. somewhere right there. >> I don't see any marks anywhere else but.

>> somewhere in the front of me. I don't know. Somewhere. >> Are they all right there a little bit? >> Are they just right here? >> Yeah. >> You don't really have any. >> Should be fine. >> I guess they didn't penetrate. >> Yeah. >> Well, he's all right. >> Yeah. >> It's probably just a dry stun so like. >> It's not like the ones that shoot out. and stick on you? >> No, there's there's an officer. >> That's a different one, a different. taser? >> Yeah. >> Cuz I didn't see the wires in his. >> So you're good right here? You don't. want to go to. >> Yeah, no, I'm fine. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I'm just going to grab my little. flashlight and check your eyes, all. right?

Like I said, man, everything's. documented. We got your side of the story. >> Yeah, that's what we mentioned before. That's Pete Sausey, the victim's. stepfather, in the middle of a brawl, bodies everywhere, taser coming out, nobody could tell the difference between. who was trying to stop the fight or. start it. >> I didn't see everything. And then I just saw him. go up towards him. I didn't know if it was part of the. court. >> Control of 515 when you get those. >> I saw the. address alarm and fortunately he was. attacking my son.

>> 5. >> And I still just thought it was my. daughter there. Uh, they were yelling at me for control. >> [snorts]. >> And then I saw a second gentleman come. in. And then I saw that only one. officer was there. He can fight them both off. >> He was the guy in the black? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay, MDC. >> So then uh. I don't know. I just I just wanted to. help my son and. I'm not a police officer. I don't know. what to do. I just.

>> Just stay here. >> I just. just did what I could. >> Turn the defense on. >> And that's it. I didn't go to come here with. any ill intention or anything. >> Okay. >> Just. I I had no idea anything like that was. going to happen. >> Okay. What's your We're just going to. get your son's information. >> They should have it down. >> Okay. And uh. >> Yeah, I'm sure MDC is probably I'm sure. MDC has already put you guys in the. report on these two. >> Yeah, absolutely.

>> Um. >> I just like I said, I I just saw one. officer there. and he was getting overwhelmed. >> Okay. So there's two people. >> Did he pull his taser or was. >> I don't know. I don't know if somebody reached for it. I don't know. I was just trying to get. people off my son and. >> Okay. >> You know, you only see this kind of. stuff on. TV. I've never done did something like that. >> has never happened here.

>> It's actually the first time it's ever. happened. >> This is the first time it's happened. here in the 5 years I've been here. >> So I've never seen anything like that. live or I've never been in a situation. like this. >> And that's Joe Ray Ortiz, the. defendant's father. With only one. corrections officer trying to stop it, he said he couldn't just stand there. So, now the bailiff was also interviewed. and she saw it all from just a few feet. away and told police what unfolded. >> Do you know which one? If you can remember.

The the one that didn't hit the back. >> Yeah. He was hitting the inmate and then the. guy in the black sweater jumped over. and got in and got involved in the fight. and then a couple of other people got. involved in the fight. >> So, >> And I saw them like all wrestling down. here on the floor. and then one of the ladies. came in and started kicking people. >> Do you know what the lady was wearing?

>> Possibly a brown sweater. >> A brown sweater? It was a lady? So, this. gentleman with the white shirt. jumped over the. and they started hitting the inmate. first. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um, where was the inmate? >> The back side. Right. He was behind the podium just. yeah. He tried to get away. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, gentleman in the white shirt jumped. over. started striking the inmate. Do you know what the Do you know what he. was wearing?

>> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. So, after that happened. um, who else came in? >> The guy in the black shirt. >> The one that's all the way in the back. >> Yeah. >> So, he came in to defend the inmate? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then you said there was. someone with the brown sweater. >> Yeah, the lady. She She came in. and started just kicking. >> Okay. >> It's like there was. >> Do you know what she was wearing? >> I don't. It honestly like maybe a brown sweater. shirt. >> Do you know who she was with?

>> I don't cuz it seemed like everybody was. sitting on that one side of the. apartment. >> You mean. everybody was over there? >> It seemed like it. >> Okay. >> Cuz I didn't notice anybody sitting on. this side of the apartment. >> Okay. >> Okay, so. I just wanted to clarify something. And I know it's already been established. but I just got to make. it so. Gentleman in the white jumped over, started hitting inmate. Gentleman that's in the back wearing the. Nike sweater came in to defend inmate.

Somehow they all ended up on the ground. Lady with the brown sweater started. kicking. Where's the. >> [clears throat]. >> Okay. You know I'll go let my fellow deputies. know what you saw. Um if you have any. more questions we'll come and talk to. you. Are you okay though? You guys weren't hurt? Okay. Is medical coming to see you guys now? Thank you, man.

Is that got something to do with this. here? That's the current officer. That's this dude in the key. He [clears throat] said they look the. same so. they look the same to me.

Sorry. >> That's okay. >> Um. They're here for this side. This case. >> Mhm. >> Inmate was at the toilet. This gentleman. in the white jumped over. Um. jumped over and started punching the. inmate. >> First name? >> Is that. Yeah. Which is No, which is Pete. >> So Pete was your. You know his name and then we're getting. 49 for the service. >> 16. >> And there's there's another one that I.

think. Um downstairs who also is an inmate. There's a female came and hit him with a. chair and hit him with. And there was only one CU up here. >> Yeah. So. >> Yeah, so apparently this dude got jumped. over. >> [clears throat]. >> This guy was defending his friend. So but this guy was his his team leader. So according to the female, she's like. the guy in the white shirt just jumped. over to punch the other dude. And then that's when the guy in the Nike. sweater jumped over to defend the other. dude from him. >> So we also did you want.

>> That's That's coming from the female. >> I'll put it all in the hard drive. >> And And. >> Maybe you could. >> Cool.

>> I guess that's what this guy told me. that. Some guy told me that he was looking at. this guy. So that's when someone rushed over and. >> Yeah, but the only income is. >> We need to get. >> forgive his niece. >> The guy that was there. >> Yeah, so. >> Pretty good photo. >> Pretty good. >> Yeah, we can just get the.

the 60. >> This is not a typical day. >> So after talking with the witnesses, deputy sat down, they watched the. footage. And it is the video that. decided who went to jail and who went. home. >> Yeah, I don't know where they have. >> I don't know. >> was I definitely going to try to get. someone arrested. >> No, they're. >> They both said. >> Yeah, so he is He's the one we have in. custody. Carlos is the other one with. the black hoodie in custody. They both. were the ones that jumped over and. started the fight. >> Okay, so they're both getting charged.

with the felony charges. And so we're. going to sit on both of those ones. >> And then there's two females that come. in and we'll figure out who those are. >> They also. >> But we don't have them in custody. >> No. >> Okay, but we'll figure out who they are. We'll sit on this two with the felony. If there's any other ones, we can. >> Okay, you can do that. >> On the other ones, if we identify who. they are, we. >> [laughter]. >> Do you have a warrant or a warrant? >> So, is your brother too young to. >> Okay, well, I can. >> 12 and 19. >> Uh, I'll take it. I'll take it. >> So, so.

>> the same route. Let's do the. >> Are you still on the second. >> Are you still on the second floor? >> Control. >> Okay, so those two will go up. >> Yes. >> Um. And then you're writing. LCC. >> 10-4, dispatcher. Got it. We'll write LCC for the two phones. >> Okay. >> Um. >> Yeah. >> And then we'll do we'll try to identify. the two females for the summons.

For. We'll just hold them right here, though. >> We'll try to get that. >> I'll work on the other one. Um or some of us will work on the other. one tonight maybe. Um Buster will look at it and so um. we'll figure out what their charges are. right there. If we don't have them in. custody, that's fine. We'll apparently. >> You just have to sign for them. >> Do you guys need an extra person to go. to the hospital? They're on the same. side, like they're brother and sister. >> Yeah, no, we can probably take them. Do. you have. Do you have a unit or. Single crewer or double? >> Double. >> I can take them both. >> Okay. >> So, I'll just go with him. >> Okay. >> And then we'll just um follow him.

>> All right. So, you've heard the family's. rage. You've seen the chaos, but you. haven't heard why they were so angry in. the first place. Now, we touched on it. earlier, right? Two killings six days. apart, but I want to go deeper. I want. to go deeper into what the complaints. actually say because understanding what. Alexander Ortiz is accused of, that's. the only way to understand why that. courtroom exploded. According to the. criminal complaint filed in Bernalillo. County Metropolitan Court on January. 11th, 2024, police were dispatched to an. apartment on Montgomery Boulevard for a.

homicide call. The person who called 911. told the dispatcher a name, Draco. She. said, quote, "He killed my cousin. He. goes by Draco. He just came inside and. ran." So, when officers arrived, they. found Aliana lying in the bedroom. And. according to the complaint, quote, "There appeared to be a bloody hand. print and a possible defect in her skull. area. A bedroom window had been broken. out from the inside." And a neighbor. told police he had seen the male living. in the apartment with quote "a possible. Glock firearm on his hip in a holster.".

He described the male as a dark-skinned. Hispanic approximately 5'11" with. tattoos on his arms, shoulders, and. chest. Another witness told. investigators she was in the apartment. that night. According to the complaint, her ears then began ringing from a. gunshot. She and another witness kicked. the bedroom door open. Once the door was. open, the witness noticed Alexander had. already gotten out the window and was. gone. She looked further into the. bedroom and quote "saw Aliana was. bleeding from her nose and her eyes. She. didn't perform CPR because she believed.

it wouldn't help." And the complaint. also details these prior incidents that. Aliana's father told police that. approximately two to three days before. the killing, he received a phone call. from Aliana stating that Alex was. pointing a gun at her. Her father came. to the apartment, told Alex to leave. He. left. Those were the allegations. Aliana's mother told investigators that. on Christmas Eve 2023, so just weeks. before the killing, Aliana called her. because she wanted to be picked up after. Alex had battered her. And when her. mother got to the apartment, she saw. Alex leave through an apartment window.

She also said, quote, "Alex also broke. the windows to Aliana's sedan." Now, according to the complaint, a witness. told police she has found out that. Aliana and Alexander were in an argument. earlier about Aliana giving Alexander an. STD. She believed this is what caused. Alexander to shoot Aliana. That is not. all. While detectives were still. searching for Ortiz, so six days later a. woman named Nicole Maldonado was shot. and killed outside this grocery store on. Central Avenue. And police reviewed the. surveillance footage and according to. reporting from KOB 4, the video.

allegedly showed Ortiz firing into a car. with Nicole inside. She was in the back. seat, didn't survive. And when officers. finally tracked Ortiz to a home near. that grocery store and he apparently. barricaded himself inside, according to. the arrest documents, when they searched. the residence, this is where they found. parts of a 40 caliber handgun, an. extended magazine, a 50-round drum. magazine, and Glock ammunition. Ballistics later linked those parts to. the grocery store shooting. So Ortiz was. charged with two counts of murder, one.

for Aliana, one for Nicole. That's what. the family was carrying with them when. they walked into that courtroom. And in. the end, according to court documents. reviewed by local media, Carlos Lucero, Pete Sassy, they took plea deals. Carlos. is serving 18 months of supervised. probation. Pete got around 12 months. And as for Alexander Ortiz, while he was. convicted of first-degree murder for. killing Aliana, in September of 2025 a. judge sentenced him to life in prison. His trial for the murder, or the alleged. murder of Nicole Maldonado, is still.

pending. And that's all we have for you. right now here on Sidebar. Everybody, thank you so much for joining us and as. always, please subscribe [music] on. YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you should get your podcast. You can also check us out on NBC's. Peacock as well. If you want to follow. me, X, [music] Instagram, my NewsNation. show, Jesse Weber Live, Monday through. Friday, 11:00 p.m. Eastern. See you next. time, everybody.