I'm in the preliminary hearing on Steven Baca, who is charged w/ aggravated battery causing great bodily harm for shooting Scott Williams 4x in the back, aggravated battery on two women, stemming from Baca's attack on a 6/15 statue protest of Juan de Oñate, a brutal colonizer /1
The prosecution will present witnesses and videos to show probable cause to formally charge Baca w/ these offense. The state submitted its video and photo evidence one-hour before the hearing. As a result, the hearing will only begin with witnesses without video exhibits. 2/
The state moved to postpone the hearing after withdrawing its video evidence. The judge has postponed the hearing until tomorrow at 8.30am. 3/
I'll pick this thread up tomorrow morning.
The hearing resumed. Baca, the accused, is claiming "a clear instance of self-defense," that he "feared for his life," then shot Scott Williams 4x in the back as he was running away, the assault on the woman was self-defense. 4/
First witness claims a group was "shouting Christian prayers" over "Native American prayers" at Tiguex Park prior to the shooting. 5/
The witness emphasizes that this was "a prayer service" and people were concerned when men showed up with assault rifles. 6/
Witness identifies Baca as a "counter protester," because "he was standing with the Christian group yelling prayers" prior to the shooting. The crowd knew Baca was armed with a can mace on his hip and had a "bulge" in his pockets. 7/
Baca "shoved me to the ground" in front of the Oñate statue after the witness grabbed a sign from a woman. (Defense claims she "fell".) 8/
After Baca shoved her to the ground, she claims he "was shoving little girls." 9/
(Lots of technical issues since the entire hearing is virtual. Video stream is choppy. Audio difficulties. etc.)
State is playing ABQ Museum security cam footage. (Side note: this is the live video police had access, while they were stationed at the museum watching the militia and counter protesters clash with young people at the statue.) 10/
In the video, Baca approaches the suspect from behind, pushing her forward as she grabbed an "ALL LIVES MATTER" sign. 11/
This is the first time I've seen the ABQ Museum security cam footage. From what I'm told, the camera was installed once La Jornada was built, which is a group of statues depicting Oñate leading Spanish settlers, because there was community protests against it. 12/
*witness not suspect
The defense is falsely claiming The Red Nation was the group who organized the Oñate statue protest and "removal." TRN did organize a rally that day, not in ABQ but in Alcalde. 13/
This is the IG post the defense is referring to. It clearly states this rally is in Española not ABQ. Did the defense even read this? 14/ 
This has been a source of confusion for quite some time. There were two rallies and prayer vigils held that day at Oñate statues, one in ABQ and one in Alcalde. Genizaro Nation organized the ABQ prayer vigil. TRN helped organize the Alcalde prayer. 15/
How the defense confused these two actions — happening nearly 100 miles apart from each other — is quite disturbing for Baca's case. 16/
On June 15, Rio Arriba County Commission removed the Juan de Oñate statue after locals garnered thousands of signatures for its removal. 17/
The first witness ended her questioning by stating she is 5'5" and 125lbs. 18/
Second witness taking the stand is the second woman Baca allegedly assaulted that day. She was wearing a camo jacket with a patch that read "WILL TRADE REFUGEES FOR RACISTS" 19/
Witness claims protestors thought Baca may have been "an undercover cop" and "was armed" prior to her assault and the shooting. 20/
She was facing the statue trying to move people back in case the statue toppled. Witness is 5'9" and 117lbs. Baca chest bumped her from behind, then from behind grabbed her armpit and her head slamming her into the concrete. "I've never hit my head so hard in my entire life." 21/
"I was dizzy and felt nauseous for few days aftwards... I had a headache for like three days," she says. "It was lot to process, the physical and emotional trauma." 22/
Court watches the video of Baca assaulting the woman from behind. She was standing on the dirt and was thrown so far she landed behind Baca on the sidewalk which was feet away. She was visibly shaken while giving testimony. 23/
For those joining the thread: This is a *preliminary* hearing for Steven Baca, who is charged w/ aggravated battery causing great bodily harm for shooting Scott Williams 4x in the back, aggravated battery on two women, stemming from Baca's attack on a statue protest on 6/15 24/
The defense is asking the witness a line of questioning to ascertain the tools (chains and a pickaxe) used on the Oñate statue, more concerned with what was done to the statue than to the witness. 25/
Side note: the defense questioned the witness abt eating at Frontier after her assault. It was implied, if she was hurt why would she go to a restaurant? "I was hungry," she said, b/c of her injuries couldn't cook for herself. (What's the next question, red, green, or xmas?) 26/
The court is reconvening after lunch for the third witness. Prior to the recess, the defense tried to make the comparison of a chain and pickaxe (ostensibly tools for statue removal) as weapons compared to the mace and handgun Baca carried and the assault rifles of a militia. 27/
3rd witness claims hearing people shout, "He has a weapon! He has a weapon!" pointing to Baca as he was leaving the crowd. Baca paced in the street away from crowd on a cellphone. Witness saw Baca's pockets were full and he was concealing something in his hands. 28/
Baca stood next to the witness and the witness says he "saw an evil intent in his eyes." Witness asked Baca to leave because "he was trouble." "I got my eyes on you, you piece of shit," witness claims Baca said to him before reentering the crowd and assaulting a woman. 29/
Baca is confronted after assaulting the woman. Witness swings his skateboard at Baca to get Baca away from the woman, hitting Baca on the shoulder. Witness says Baca pulled out a can of mace. Witness tackles Baca. 30/
Witness dropped his skateboard. Baca maces him. Witness tackles Baca to the ground. Witness heard someone say, "He has a gun." A woman with a handbag swings it at Baca. Witness pulls Baca to ground again. 31/
"I was very concerned. I was trying my best hold onto him [on the ground] because I know he was trying to hurt someone," witness says. "At that point, I believe that he had a gun." 32/
The state is presenting a frame-by-frame analysis of the video, and the judge says she "can't see" because the pictures are "blurry." Can't tell if this is an issue of the livestream or the judge's complaint about the state's presentation of evidence. 33/
The image shows Baca pulling out his gun from his waistband as the witness tries to pull him back to the ground. Witness claims as he stood up Baca shot at him at least once and then turned and shot at others. Then he turned around and ran away. 34/
The defense has a line of questioning asking the witness to describe the parts of a skateboard, specifically referencing the metal trucks. CORRECTION: Witness clarifies, the witness called Baca "a piece of shit" not the other way around. 35/
The defense asks whether or not the witness has "criminal immunity" for testifying today. Short recess. 36/
Witness is not testifying "under immunity." He doesn't want immunity because "I don't need it," he says. 37/
Because this is being streamed (COVID precautions), there is a lot of confusion about new processes and the submission of evidence. Most of the back-and-forth is about technology issues and the videos and photos. 38/
The defense made a motion to dismiss the charges based on "misconduct" b/c state was "cherry-picking" the evidence presented. The shooting victim's lawyer is challenging the dismissal because this is a preliminary hearing, and there's no obligation present all evidence. 39/
Judge dismissed the defense's motion to dismiss. 40/
Scott Williams, the shooting victim, is the fourth witness. He describes a "fairly calm" prayer gathering that night to call for the removal the Oñate statue. Counter protesters interrupted the prayers and the speakers at the vigil on a bullhorn. 41/
Williams saw a New Mexico Civil Guard member drop a shotgun on the ground, Williams says, and he dove on it fearing someone might get shot or the NMCG might shoot someone trying to pick it up. 42/
Williams identifies Baca with a woman in a camo jacket. Describes Baca's actions as "physical" with protesters and the woman as being "vocal" yelling at the protesters. 43/
Williams saw Baca had a can of mace while in the crowd, and told people, "He [Baca] has a weapon." Baca left the crowd afterwards. Williams saw Baca attack a woman from behind and then saw a woman after she had been thrown to the ground by Baca. 44/
Williams saw Baca throwing punches at two people after Baca left the crowd for the second time and throwing a woman to concrete. He moved quickly to "break that fight up" and "deescalate if possible." 45/
As he moved closer, he saw "Baca had a gun" and picked up a skateboard and attempted to knock the gun out of Baca's had. "I don't remember hearing any shots. I don't remember feeling any shots. I remember smelling gunpowder." He turned around and fell to the ground. 46/
Williams says Baca sprayed him and two individuals with mace prior to Baca shooting Williams as he ran away. 47/
We are watching the video of Baca shooting Scott Williams. Right before he shot Williams, Baca can be seen attacking a woman in the crowd after the crowd removed him and members of the white militia, NM Civil Guard. 48/
"I'm not sure how many times I was shot. I ended up with 9 holes in my body," Williams says. 1 bullet below left clavicle, right side of his body, hole center back half-inch from spine, hole in right arm, hole in each button, 2 holes in the groin, and a hole in the left leg. 49/
Williams' dad was administering first aid to his son after he was shot. His dad was "forceful" with the SWAT medic who arrived on scene, to help his son. 50/
"Unless I try to disarm him [Baca], he's going to kill one of these people," Williams recalls as he picked up a skateboard that was dropped on the ground. 51/
Scott is recovering but has "pretty serious nerve damage." He spent 4-5 weeks in the hospital, with an expected 6 month recovery time. Nerve damage may be permanent. 52/
Defense questions Williams about wearing black. He did the same with the previous witness. Defense is really concerned with the witnesses fashion choices. 53/
Defense is asking why witnesses brought first aid kits to a protest. Defense's client brought an illegally concealed handgun and a can of mace, and used both. 54/
Defense asked why Williams didn't turn in a vape pen or his glasses to APD. His response, because I was shot bleeding out on the ground. 55/
"I told him [the New Mexico Civil Guardsman] that it was totally unacceptable that he lose control of his firearm in a public setting," Williams says. "He apologized." 56/
Defense wants to know why Williams was wearing a fanny pack to a protest. 57/
The court is in recess until tomorrow at 1.15pm. 58/
Jumped back on. I missed the testimony of a cop, who didn't witness the shooting and wasn't at the event that night. 59/
