A man accused of fatally shooting a 15-year-old last year was beaten by members of the teen’s family during a courtroom melee in San Antonio, authorities said.

Victor Rivas, 18, who is charged with murder in the May 2022 death of Ethan Soto, was in a Bexar County courtroom Friday awaiting a preliminary hearing when he was attacked.

Rivas’ attorney, Adam LaHood, said his client was “going to be bruised and swollen” but was not otherwise injured.

Four people — two men and two juveniles — were arrested and will be charged with assault and disrupting court proceedings, the Bexar County sheriff’s office said. Their names haven’t been released.

    • deweydecibel@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Why?

      The trial hadn’t even taken place yet.

      Are we seriously so bloodthirsty and shortsighted we can’t even pretend to give a shit about due process anymore?

    • Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Nah.

      I can’t explain how stupid it is to cause trouble when inside the courtroom. It’s not deserving or “good riddance”, it’s shortsighted and fucking stupid.

      If they had half a brain, they would have schemed. Get the guy in prison. Or bribe a certain accident. Or do some other sneaky shit.

      Instead, their master plan was to “hit him a bit” while surrounded by police officers and the courts? And now they get to also get charged? Fucking amateur hour.