Skate park shooter walks on own recognizance

Greg Buchanan, the man who fatally shot 17-year-old Jaquise Lewis last year at the Los Altos Skate Park, was released on his own recognizance following arraignment on felony drug trafficking charges. State District Court Judge Christian Argryes let Buchanan, 24, stay free, and she imposed no special conditions of release on him, said attorney Greg […]

Skate park shooter walks on own recognizance

Greg Buchanan, the man who fatally shot 17-year-old Jaquise Lewis last year at the Los Altos Skate Park, was released on his own recognizance following arraignment on felony drug trafficking charges.

Screenshot of cell phone video from Los Altos Skate Park on March 22.
Screenshot of cell phone video from Los Altos Skate Park on March 22.

State District Court Judge Christian Argryes let Buchanan, 24, stay free, and she imposed no special conditions of release on him, said attorney Greg Payne, who is representing Lewis’ mother in a civil case and who was in court during the arraignment. Argryes said Buchanan has to refrain from excessive use of alcohol and can’t do drugs, but she refused to order him to not have guns, as the District Attorney’s office had requested.

And Payne said that since Buchanan doesn’t have to report to authorities about his conditions of release, there is no mechanism for authorities to ensure that he meets the limited terms.

Buchanan was indicted on May 25 on charges of trafficking by possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, concealing his identity and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.

“This is a guy with a history of drug trafficking, gun violence; he is facing second-degree felony charges,” Payne said. “He doesn’t have to post any financial bond, and there’s no drug or alcohol testing, no ankle bracelet, and, given his history with guns, he is still free to carry a gun.”

Buchanan has not been charged in connection with Lewis’ shooting, which occurred during a brawl at the skate park on March 22, 2015. But as of early June, District Attorney Kari Brandenburg’s office finally received the full case file on the skate park shooting from the Albuquerque Police Department. She is reviewing the case for possible charges against Buchanan, Brandenburg told ABQ Free Press.

The fight broke out between two groups at the park—one of mostly white skateboarders celebrating a birthday, and another group of mostly African-Americans, who were also having a party—after a skateboard was apparently stolen.

Dozens of shots were fired, and it’s not clear who fired the first shot. Buchanan said he shot Lewis in self-defense, but the 17-year-old was shot in the back. Lewis’ family said Jaquise didn’t have a gun and that he fired no shots that night.

Out on Bond When Shooting Occurred

At the time of the shooting, Buchanan faced the drug trafficking charges. Those charges were eventually dismissed, and then refiled by Brandenburg’s office. At least two preliminary hearings were scheduled in the case, but they never occurred because the APD officers didn’t show up for court, Brandenburg said, adding that her office then took the case to a grand jury, which indicted Buchanan on the charges.

Buchanan has had other interactions with police since shooting Lewis. Three-and-a-half weeks after the Los Altos shooting, police were called to Buchanan’s apartment after he apparently dropped his gun and fired a shot that went through his kitchen floor and into his neighbor’s apartment. Police said it was an accident and no charges were filed. And, police apparently didn’t test the gun to see if it was the same one that was used to shoot Lewis.

On May 16, Buchanan got into a fight with a man at a 7-Eleven store and fled as the man he assailed fired 17 shots at him. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. at the store at 13601 Copper Ave. NE. Miguel Ortega, 36, was in the store buying beer when Buchanan entered the store, approached Ortega and “pushed him high in the chest with both hands,” according to the criminal complaint against Ortega.

The two exited the store and Buchanan pushed Ortega to the ground “where he punched him multiple times in the head and body,” the complaint said.

Ortega got away from Buchanan, and then proceeded to fire 17 shots at Buchanan from a semi-automatic handgun as Buchanan fled west on Copper, the complaint said. Ortega was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and bringing a firearm into a liquor establishment. No charges were filed against Buchanan.

Lewis’ mother, Munah Green, was in the courtroom with Payne to observe Buchanan’s arraignment. Payne said that after Buchanan was released on his own recognizance, he smirked at Green.

“He walked out of the courtroom smirking, because he is one smug SOB,” Payne said. “He has every right to be smug because APD and the judicial system are looking out for him.”

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
Gov signs bills with some vetoes 

Gov signs bills with some vetoes 

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed 69 bills that the legislature passed during the 2024 legislative session. These included the General Appropriations Act which contains…
Guv signs state budget

Guv signs state budget

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the budget bill for Fiscal Year 2025 and the Capital Outlay spending bill. The FY25 state budget bill passed…
Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

New Mexico advocates seeking to have the Gila River designated as a Wild and Scenic River will travel to Washington D.C. this week to…

NM Supreme Court annuls $10,000 penalty in PNM/Avangrid merger case

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a penalty the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission levied against the state’s largest utility was…
State fines oil company more than $2 million after spill

State fines oil company more than $2 million after spill

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department fined an oil and gas company operating in the Permian Basin more than $2 million over produced…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
Supreme Court censures attorney over conduct in anti-COVID policy suits

Supreme Court censures attorney over conduct in anti-COVID policy suits

The New Mexico State Supreme Court censured a New Mexico attorney because of her “misconduct” in two unsuccessful cases pushing back on COVID-19 regulations…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

President Joe Biden highlighted reproductive rights issues as part of his State of the Union speech Thursday. Biden delivered his 2024 State of the…
Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

U.S. House of Rep. Melanie Stansbury has invited an OB-GYN doctor from Roswell as her guest for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

President Joe Biden highlighted reproductive rights issues as part of his State of the Union speech Thursday. Biden delivered his 2024 State of the…
Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

U.S. House of Rep. Melanie Stansbury has invited an OB-GYN doctor from Roswell as her guest for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union…
See who’s going to be on your primary ballot in June

See who’s going to be on your primary ballot in June

Tuesday marked the official beginning of the 2024 New Mexico primary season for the legislature, with candidates officially filing for candidacy. This is the…

Bill to require disclosure of use of AI in campaign materials goes to governor

The Senate approved a bill aiming to require the disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence or other changes made by computers to campaign…
House amends, passes bill banning firearms near polling places

House amends, passes bill banning firearms near polling places

The House narrowly approved a bill that would ban firearms near polling places. The House voted 35-34 to pass the bill following an extensive…
Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

New Mexico advocates seeking to have the Gila River designated as a Wild and Scenic River will travel to Washington D.C. this week to…
U.S. Supreme Court lets ban on Couy Griffin from holding office stand

U.S. Supreme Court lets ban on Couy Griffin from holding office stand

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a Republican official who was barred from holding office after being convicted for a…
Politics Newsletter: legislative leaders not running for reelection

Politics Newsletter: legislative leaders not running for reelection

Hello fellow political junkies! Candidate filing day has come and gone, and members of House and Senate leadership opted to either not seek reelection…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report