Man charged in Oñate protest shooting to remain in jail ahead of trial

Spencer Schacht | KOB

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ESPAÑOLA, N.M. — The alleged Oñate rally shooter, 23-year-old Ryan Martinez, appeared in court Friday for the first in-person hearing in this case.

Judge Jason Lidyard ruled there is probable cause for the case to go to trial. Martinez is charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault.

The judge also ruled Friday that Martinez will stay in jail until trial. He found there were no conditions of release that would keep the community safe.

That decision came after hours of testimony from witnesses, responding officers, and investigators. They described the events that led up to the shooting and the chaotic scene that followed – a car chase through Española that ended in Pojoaque.

There were tears on both sides – Martinez’s family crying because their son will not be coming home for now, and tears of relief from friends and family of the shooting victim, Jacob Johns.

“I just want you to remember that this is the start of justice,” said Laverne McGrath, Johns’ mother. “This is an effort, yet this is the first step, and I am so grateful for the judge, for all those that help clarify what the truth was.”

In court, a UNM hospital surgeon who took care of Johns detailed the severity of his injuries.

After the hearing, Johns’ family and friends said he is out of the ICU, but he is still hospitalized. They are calling for federal hate crime charges to be filed against Martinez.

This is a developing story. Stay with KOB 4 Eyewitness News and KOB.com for updates.