Staff Reports
A 19-year-old is facing three counts of attempted murder after he reportedly shot at three people at a local park.
On April 4, around 10 pm, Metro Dispatch received multiple calls about approximately four shots being fired in the area of Ford Canyon Park, 906 Tafoya Park. Callers also reported that a woman was laying on the ground holding her head.
Gallup Police Officer Eric Mangum arrived at the scene, and met with a female victim, who was the one on the ground holding her head. According to Mangum’s report, the victim wouldn’t initially respond to his questions. She reportedly appeared visibly distressed, and was hyperventilating.
Mangum spoke to the victim’s sister, who said a male identified as a man identified as Ezekiel Baca had fired several rounds at the victim, herself, and her boyfriend. She stated the four of them had gotten into an argument before Baca, 19, fired the shots. The woman said that her sister was pregnant.
Emergency medical personnel and additional officers arrived at the scene.
Mangum and Officer Jacob Silversmith reportedly found three spent Blazer .380 semiautomatic handgun shell casings in the area.
While the officers were conducting their investigation, the two women were transported to a local hospital for medical evaluations.
Later on, Mangum drove to the hospital to speak with the women again.
The victim’s sister said she and her boyfriend had gone to Ford Canyon Park after her sister called her and told her she was there with Baca. She reportedly said she’d gone to the park to tell Baca to “keep his hands off” her sister.
When Baca saw his girlfriend’s sister, he reportedly became upset with the victim, and an argument ensued. During the argument, Baca reportedly pulled a gun from his pocket and pointed it directly at the victim’s head from approximately one foot away. He then allegedly fired three rounds.
Then Baca allegedly pointed the gun at the first victim’s sister, fired a round, then pointed the gun at her boyfriend, and fired another round.
When Mangum and Detective Chavo Chischilly interviewed the initial victim, she said that he had previously told her if her sister confronted him he would shoot her and her boyfriend.
Mangum and Chischilly were then able to speak to the sister’s boyfriend. He gave them his hoodie, which had a bullet hole in it. He said that during the argument Baca had pulled out the firearm and said “oh f**k no, y’all isn’t about to jump me,” before he reportedly began shooting.
The young man reportedly ran from the scene, and found the bullet hole in his jacket later on.
Baca is facing three counts of attempted murder in the first degree. A detention and preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for April 21 in Gallup District Court.
