- A fight broke out in the courtroom of a murder trial after angry family members were provoked by the suspect
- Victor Nathaneal Rivas, 18, was charged with the murder of Ethan Soto, 15
- Rivas allegedly made a gesture at Soto’s family – who was then seen on video jumping over a partition and hitting him
A handcuffed murder suspect was brutally beaten by his alleged victim’s family after he made a gesture toward them in a Texas court.
Victor Nathaneal Rivas, 18, was in the Bexar County courtroom where he is on trial for murder in the death of Ethan Soto, 15, when a dramatic fight broke out Friday.
Video footage shows Soto’s family members jumping over a partition and attacking Rivas – who allegedly provoked the group by making a gesture towards them.
The footage showed a group of at least four people beating Rivas, whose hands were handcuffed behind his back.
Victor Nathaneal Rivas, 18, was on trial Friday for the murder of Ethan Soto, 15, when a fight broke out
Rivas, who was 17 at the time of his alleged crime, was arrested and charged with murder in August 2022 after he was accused of shooting Soto in what appeared to be revenge for a drug robbery, Sant Antonio police said ( in the picture: Rivas).
The shooter reportedly lured his “victim” out of his home in May 2022 after Soto stole THC cartridges from Rivas (Pictured: Soto)
Police tried to dislodge the attackers from the suspected killer as passersby watched in shock as the incident unfolded, according to a clip provided to KSAT.
According to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, four people were arrested following the violence – including two adult males and two juvenile males – and are facing charges of assault and disrupting the course of justice.
Rivas, who was 17 at the time of his alleged crime, was arrested and charged with murder in August 2022 after he was accused of shooting Soto in what appeared to be revenge for a drug robbery, Sant Antonio police said.
Judge Ron Rangel, administrative judge for the Bexar County Criminal District Courts, said: “When you think about courtrooms, you bring together victims of violent crimes with people who are accused of committing those violent crimes, and so courtrooms can often become powder kegs.” A small spark can ignite.’
The judge was forced to press the panic button in the courtroom after the fight broke out. Rangel said it was unlikely that any of the defendants would be allowed to attend future court hearings.
Rivas’ attorney, Adam LaHood, told KSAT that they were in court Friday for a routine preliminary hearing. He said the outbreak was “certainly unexpected” and “not something you would ever want to experience.”
Soto’s family members jumped over a partition in the courtroom and began attacking Rivas – who provoked the group by making a gesture towards them
The dramatic incident occurred in Bexar County, Texas, in a courtroom where the murder trial was taking place
Someone captured the shocking fight on video – the footage showed a group of at least four people attacking Rivas – who was handcuffed – with punches
The shooter reportedly lured his “victim” out of his home in May 2022 after Soto stole THC cartridges from Rivas.
According to an affidavit, Soto’s mother tried to ease tensions between the boys by paying Rivas for the cartridges Soto had stolen.
Rivas shot Soto during the May altercation, but Soto suffered no injuries.
Later that day, Rivas sent a message on Instagram to an underage girl asking if she would make a drug deal with Soto – which she did the following day, according to police.
The girl told Soto that she was near the agreed location, and he went to meet her. However, he was confronted by Rivas, who ambushed him and allegedly shot him.