A New Mexico resident claimed self-defense in a shooting incident that occurred during a protest concerning the reinstallation of a statue honoring a 16th-century Spanish colonial leader. Ryan Martinez, 23, from Sandia Park, faced attempted murder charges for the shooting of Jacob Johns, a 42-year-old Native American activist from Spokane, Washington, on September 28.
Law enforcement authorities explained that Martinez was allegedly attempting to disrupt a peaceful event celebrating the postponement of the statue’s reinstallation due to safety concerns that had arisen during previous protests. The statue, originally situated just north of Espanola, New Mexico, had been removed in 2020 in the midst of nationwide anti-racism protests. The shooting incident took place in Espanola, where the statue was set to be reinstalled.
According to Nicole Moss, Martinez’s defense attorney, her client was engaged in peacefully documenting the event through photographs and videos when he was allegedly pushed and physically attacked by protesters. She argued that the presence of Martinez, who wore a red hat with the slogan “Make America Great Again,” made him a target for those who opposed the statue.
Video evidence presented in court depicted a protester grabbing Martinez by the neck and shoving him against a low wall just before he drew a handgun from his waistband.
Moss contended that Martinez “fired one shot at Mr. Johns in self-defense.”
Testimony from Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Dennis indicated that Martinez had engaged in a verbal exchange with a police officer and protesters before the shooting occurred. Protest organizer Mateo Peixinho stated that he had questioned Martinez’s presence at the event before the shooting, and Martinez had expressed frustration over county commissioners allowing a small group of Indigenous protesters to impede the statue’s reinstallation.
Johns’ mother confirmed that her son remained in critical condition and was hospitalized at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. She expressed her concern, stating, “He’s fighting for his life.”
This incident is the latest in a series of violent clashes regarding statues of Juan de Onate, erected in the 1990s to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Spanish settlers. These monuments have long been a subject of controversy, with Native Americans and others viewing Onate’s 1598 colonization as oppressive. In contrast, some descendants of Spanish colonial settlers, known as Hispanos, argue that Onate should be celebrated as part of New Mexico’s Hispanic heritage.
