A Phoenix courtroom descended into chaos last week when the father-in-law of a murdered U.S. Army captain attacked the man responsible for his death during a sentencing hearing.
Alberto Ontiveros Sanchez, 55, had just delivered an emotional victim-impact statement inside Maricopa County Superior Court’s South Court Tower on Madison Street. As he walked back toward the gallery, Sanchez suddenly turned, rushed toward the defense table, and struck Abel Uribe several times in the back of the head.
Court records and local reports say Uribe was handcuffed and wearing leg restraints when Sanchez landed four to five closed-fist punches. The attack was captured by courtroom cameras, prompting the judge to halt the proceeding and clear much of the courtroom…