A Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s deputy’s son was stabbed March 21 during a fight over “something stupid.”
Richard Lujan, 20, was holding his left wrist and bleeding profusely when officers were dispatched to his Española home around 3:30 a.m., according to a police report. Lujan had suffered one stab wound that went from his wrist to his elbow and was described as a deep laceration 5 to 6 inches long that cut to the bone. Puddles of blood were visible in the living room, kitchen and dining area of the house.
Lujan told Española Police he got in a fight with Larry Archuleta, 22, of Hernandez. As Lujan was being transported to Española Hospital for treatment, officers heard someone walking in the bushes on Angel Duran Drive outside Lujan’s home and located Felix Valdez. Valdez was a witness to the incident, albeit an intoxicated one, according to police.
Valdez told police Archuleta and Lujan were both his friends, and Archuleta stabbed Lujan because they were fighting over “something stupid.”
Det. Bryan Martinez said Archuleta turned himself in Sunday. His version of the incident corresponded with Valdez’s and Lujan’s, Martinez said.
“Richard was trying to calm Larry down over a girl,” Martinez said. “It all boils down to the three guys that were there were so intoxicated. That’s pretty much what all of them said.”
A 3-and-a-half or 4-inch Gerber folding knife allegedly used to stab Lujan was taken into evidence, Martinez said. Lujan was taken by ambulance from Española Hospital to the University of New Mexico Hospital the night of March 21 for treatment, Martinez said.
Archuleta was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and transported Monday to McKinley County Jail, according to Martinez and Española Jail staff.
Lujan, the son of deputy James Lujan, was out of the hospital by Monday, but said he couldn’t comment on the case.