Albuquerque Shooter Steven Baca Attended Trump Rally Wearing Red MAGA Hat
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According to the Albuquerque Journal, Steven Baca, who has been identified as a supporter of President Trump, was arrested and charged after shooting and critically injuring a protester.
- Police said Baca shot 39-year-old Scott Williams several times in the torso during a demonstration calling for the removal of the “La Jornada” sculpture in front of the Albuquerque Museum Monday night. Williams is currently in critical condition at the University of New Mexico Hospital.
“When Steven Baca repeatedly attacked peaceful protesters in Albuquerque last night, [Williams] took bullets for the community he cares about,” said Laura Schauer Ives, an attorney for the victim’s family. “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.”
- Baca, who is the son of a former Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputy and 2019 candidate for City Council, had criticized the current city leadership and also called local officials “complete wimps when it comes to fighting crime.” The Albuquerque Journal reported that Baca lost in the six-way race to represent Downtown.
- In 2019, before Baca was defeated in the November election, he had thanked Trump and tweeted that he hoped to meet the president during a visit to Albuquerque for a campaign rally.
Many videos from the protest where Baca opened fire have been posted on Twitter, with some of them showing the militia group New Mexico Civil Guard protecting him after he shot into the crowd.
- The Albuquerque Journal reported that according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, “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.’”
- Videos from the incident also show Baca assaulting several women at the demonstration.
Baca has been booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center early Tuesday morning, according to the Albuquerque Journal. He is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon with a firearm enhancement.
