Two Lyden men shot each other in the arm Aug. 20 during a long-range shoot out on Rio Arriba County Road 57, according to State Police.
The argument between Elmer Sanchez, 40, and Toby Gonzales, 19, began that afternoon when Gonzales went to visit Sanchez’s uncle home, State Police Agent Larry Aguirre said. Gonzales parked nearby at Sanchez’s home and ended up breaking the grille of Sanchez’s truck, Aguirre said. Sanchez then backed his truck into Gonzales’ Cadillac, which was parked behind it, causing damage to one headlight, Aguirre said.
Gonzales then proceeded to Sanchez’s uncle’s house, as Sanchez sat and drank beer in front of his house with a friend. Sanchez and his friend saw Gonzales approaching the house with a steel pipe, and Sanchez pulled a pistol out of his waist band and pistol-whipped Gonzales, according to Sanchez’s version of events, Aguirre said.
Gonzales allegedly left the home and retrieved a shotgun, then climbed a hill overlooking Sanchez’s house, about 150 feet away. He allegedly shot at the pair twice to scare them. Then Sanchez fired back, Gonzales returned fire and Sanchez decided to upgrade his weapon, getting out a shotgun, Aguirre said.
After a few more rounds, Gonzales got hit in the left bicep and Sanchez was hit in the right forearm, according to police. The buckshot left several smaller wounds, Aguirre said, and both men were treated and released that day from Española Hospital.
Gonzales and Sanchez were each charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, though Aguirre said Gonzales’ charges would be amended to included more assault counts because he was firing at Sanchez’s friend, Pat Sanchez, as well.
Aguirre said Sanchez’s version of events was corroborated by Pat Sanchez, but Gonzales’ account differed in one detail. He claimed a man named Fernando accompanied him on top of the hill and did all the shooting, before fleeing the scene. Gonzales couldn’t provide any information about Fernando except his name, Aguirre said. The story didn’t hold up under questioning.
“(Gonzales) finally came out and said, ‘Okay, there’s no Fernando.’”