Police: Fugitive at large after gunfire at Lotaburger
Officials say man’s gun went off during fight at the restaurant on Airport Road
Sunday Santa afternoon Fe police were for a still 44-year-old searching man they consider a fight armed and a burst and dangerous of gunfire on following Saturday night at Blake’s Lotaburger on Airport Road.
Lt. Ben Valdez of the Santa Fe Police Department said Sunday afternoon that suspect James Jochem got into a physical altercation with another man at the Lotaburger. The suspect and victim knew each other, Valdez said.
“During the altercation it appears the victim was trying to defend himself and that’s when the firearm went off,” Valdez said. No one was hurt as a result of the gun firing, he said.
Police did not identifying the victim, who Valdez said was hurt in the struggle with Jochem. The victim was not hospitalized, Valdez said.
A search of online New Mexico court cases indicate that Jochem has had runins with the law dating back to the early 1990s and those charges were dropped. Records show he did plead guilty to a 1994 charge of assault, but it’s unclear if he served any jail time.
Jochem is described as 5-foot-11 and about 180 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen driving a silver Ford F-150 pickup with the New Mexico license plate 042WDD. The car has a lift kit and tinted windows, according to police.
Police are asking the public to call 911 or 505-428-3710 if they have any knowledge of Jochem’s whereabouts.
“We just want to get this guy into custody,” Valdez said.