Native Activist Shot for Protesting Conquistador Statue - The Shocking Twist

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico man pleaded no contest Monday to reduced charges of aggravated battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the shooting of a Native American activist during demonstrations about abandoned plans to reinstall a statue of a Spanish conquistador.

The defendant, who was initially charged with multiple felonies, agreed to plead no contest in exchange for a deal with the prosecution. By doing so, he avoided a potential lengthy trial and more severe charges.

The shooting incident occurred during a tense protest in the City of Santa Fe, where activist groups had gathered to express their opposition to the reinstalling of a statue honoring Juan de Oñate y Salazar, a Spanish conquistador. Oñate y Salazar played a pivotal role in the early history of New Mexico, but his legacy has become a contentious issue in modern times due to his treatment of the Native American population.

Activists from the Acoma Pueblo Tribe and other Native American groups had converged on the location of the proposed statue installment to demonstrate against what they considered a celebration of colonialism and past injustices against Native Americans. However, their efforts led to counter-protests, pitting Native American activists against a faction that supported the statue and Oñate y Salazar's legacy.

As tensions mounted during the protest, gunfire suddenly erupted, with several shots fired from an unknown location. It was later determined that the defendant had opened fire, striking a 41-year-old Native American activist and critically injuring him. During the initial investigation, authorities seized a gun and questioned witnesses in their attempt to determine who fired the shots.

In the aftermath, community leaders and activist groups responded with calls for calm, while warning that a lack of understanding and inflammatory rhetoric surrounding Oñate y Salazar's legacy had long been building towards a disturbing situation like this. As for the injured activist, friends and family say that he remains in stable condition, while the City of Santa Fe grapples with how to proceed on the contentious statue issue.

The no contest plea now leaves the case open for a new phase of the court process, as judges must assess the case and make an official decision about the length of the defendant's sentence.