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Judge Orders Gov Martinez To Deposition, Autopsy Details Fatal Wound Of NM School Shooter

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Judge Orders New Mexico Governor To Submit To DepositionThe Associated Press

A state district court has ordered New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez to answer questions under oath in a defamation lawsuit linked to the eviction of a group from a political even in 2014.

The Deming Headlight reports that Martinez must submit to a deposition in a lawsuit brought by Scott and Colette Chandler against the governor's State Police security detail.

Martinez is not a defendant in the lawsuit. However, a district court judge rejected arguments that she is protected from answering questions.

The Chandlers owns the Tierra Blanca Ranch program for troubled youth that has been the dogged by allegations of abuse and neglect. The Chandlers and supporters appeared in 2014 at a campaign event at Deming's Grand Motor Inn to deliver a petition to the Governor and were removed.

Autopsy Details Fatal Wound Of New Mexico School ShooterThe Associated Press

A gunman in a deadly New Mexico school shooting had no drugs or alcohol in his system the day of the rampage and an autopsy revealed bruised knuckles along with faint ink markings on his leg that included a swastika symbol.

Autopsy and toxicology results for William Atchison were released Monday in response to a public records request.

Despite the markings, authorities reiterated Tuesday that the 21-year-old former student did not target specific victims and that notes left behind by the gunman detailed a plan for opening fire inside the school.

Atchison killed two students — Francisco I. Fernandez and Casey J. Marquez — at Aztec High School in December before firing randomly in a hallway and a computer lab. He then killed himself.

The report details a gunshot wound through Atchison's mouth and through the back of his head.

Another Death From Treasure HuntThe Associated Press

A 53-year-old Illinois man who fell to his death in Yellowstone National Park last year was looking for a supposed hidden cache of gold and jewels.

KULR-TV reports that Jeff Murphy of Batavia, Illinois, was looking for the treasure that antiquities dealer Forrest Fenn says he stashed somewhere in the Rocky Mountains several years ago.

The investigation by Yellowstone officials into Murphy's death was kept private, but KULR obtained it through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The investigative report reveals Murphy's wife told park authorities that Murphy was looking for the treasure when she called to report him missing.

Murphy's body was found June 9, 2017.  He had fallen about 500 feet (152 meters) down a steep slope.

The report ruled the death an accident.

Thousands have hunted in vain across remote corners of the Western U.S. for the supposed buried treasure.

Women Accuse State’s No. 2 Public Defender Of HarassmentSanta Fe New Mexican

The state’s chief deputy public defender is facing accusations of sexual harassment by two female attorneys in New Mexico’s 9th judicial district.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports one woman, Jocelyn Garrison, says Chandler Blair whispered vulgarities in her ear while choking her and also grabbed her genitals. Another woman says Blair rubbed against her several times in open court.

The women’s supervisors filed complaints with the New Mexico Disciplinary Board but the board declined to take action.

An attorney with the Board said there was insufficient evidence, but also the state’s rules of professional conduct are focused on attorneys’ behavior with clients, not with actions in the workplace.

One woman has asked the state Supreme Court to review the board’s decision. Garrison has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Blair said in an email he strongly denies the accusations.

Melee Breaks Out At Wrestling Tournaments In Rio RanchoAlbuquerque Journal, Associated Press

A melee broke out among fans at the state high school wrestling tournaments in Rio Rancho.

The Albuquerque Journal reports two women at the center of a heated dispute disagreed on who instigated the melee Saturday night.

One is the mother a Belen High School wrestler. The other was the mother of a St. Pius High School wrestler.

The exchange escalated quickly and nearly blew up into a full-fledged fight in the stands.

There was a good deal of yelling and shouting and pushing, and not confined to just the two women.

National Guard members who were there to help in handing out medals to wrestlers were among those who climbed into the stands to defuse the situation and help escort fans away.

There were multiple fan ejections.

New Mexico Governor's Tense Tenure With Lawmakers Nears End - By Morgan Lee And Russell Contreras, Associated Press

The rocky relationship between New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and state lawmakers is coming to a close as she prepares to leave office and both sides ponder what could have been.

Democratic leaders say they wish there was better communication with the Republican governor and wonder if they could have done more.

Martinez says her only regret is that lawmakers didn't pass more of her legislation during her eight years in office.

Lawmakers wrapped up work Thursday after approving a bipartisan package of public safety reforms and spending bills.

Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf says the latest legislative session was Martinez's best because she communicated more with lawmakers.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth says he believes Martinez lacked the leadership to work with lawmakers on solutions for the struggling economy and crime.

Man Causes Scare At Las Cruces Church By Brandishing Toy GunLas Cruces Sun-News, Associated Press

A man caused a scare at a Las Cruces church by brandishing a toy gun during a mass.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that the man walked up an aisle of St. Genevieve Church on Sunday and began displaying erratic behavior.

Witnesses told the newspaper that the man, who wasn't believed to be a regular attendee, raised an orange toy gun, which popped a few times.

He wasn't believed to have pointed the toy weapon at anyone or issued a verbal threat.

A group of men from the church surrounded the man and escorted him out of the building.

Police say the man was intoxicated.

They say he discarded the toy gun as he left the building and entered a nearby cemetery, where he was detained.

Republican Gains In Secretary Of State Posts Jolt Democrats - By Susan Haigh, Associated Press

Democrats are focusing renewed attention and money to help win secretary of state seats, two-thirds of which are held by Republicans.

For the first time in years, the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State expects to target a handful of races in 2018, likely in swing states that could prove important in the 2020 presidential election.

Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill chairs the group. She has watched how Republicans made an effort to control 30 secretary of state offices across the U.S. in recent years, spending millions in the process. She expects to target several key races.

The association is considering targeting races in Ohio, Michigan, New Mexico and other states with open seats or Democrats seeking re-election.

It's the latest salvo in a battle in some states over voter fraud, identification requirements and purging of voter rolls.

Police Call Man A Hero In ShootingAlbuquerque Journal

Albuquerque Police said a man who shot and killed another man in an intersection Sunday is a hero.

The Albuquerque Journal reports police say Xiao Gong was driving her daughter to the Albuquerque Sunport when her estranged husband, Quian Ming, slammed his truck into hers at the intersection of Yale and Gibson, then got out and fired into her truck.

His daughter was struck in the shoulder and he then pulled her out and began beating her with his gun in the street, according to an APD spokesman.

A Good Samaritan at the scene, who was a veteran of the National Guard, warned Ming to stop and then shot him when Ming reportedly pointed his gun at him. Police did not identify the man because he’s not being charged.

APD Spokesman Simon Drobik said the man likely prevented a double homicide. The daughter is in stable condition.

Albuquerque City Council Propose Tax Hike For Public SafetyAlbuquerque Journal

Albuquerque city councilors are proposing a modest increase in sales taxes to fund public safety and address a budget deficit.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the measure would increase the city’s gross receipts tax by 0.375 percentage points or about three-eights of a cent per dollar. Councilors Ken Sanchez and Trudy Jones introduced the measure, which they say will raise $55 million annually.

The Albuquerque Police Officers Association wants councilors to include language that would guarantee 60 percent of the funds would be dedicated to public safety and hiring more police officers.

Sean Willoughby, head of the association, said the group would not commit to supporting the bill without such a commitment.

Sanchez said the priority is public safety, but putting a specific percentage in the bill would be almost impossible.

Police Shut Down Carlisle And ComancheKOB-TV

The intersection of Carlisle and Comanche was shut down in Albuquerque Tuesday morning by Albuquerque Police.

KOB-TV reports the cause is a violent crimes callout but no other details were available.