Threat on Judge's life shuts court

SANTA FE, NM {KRQE} - Death threats against a well known Santa Fe judge closed down a busy courthouse Monday.

News 13 learned how the judge was threatened, and what deputies think was behind the threat.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano said late Monday that so far all signs point to this being a hoax, but one he is taking very seriously.

Around one a man called 911, claiming he knew of someone who was going to district court to shoot a judge.

“The caller did give us a suspects name and suspect vehicle description but that name, but that name has not matched anything in our immediate database,” Sheriff Solano said.

A little later another call came in to Judge Michael Vigil's office.

This time it was the suspected shooter.

Sheriff Solano said the person just said “I am coming to shoot you,” then hung up.

“Every available deputy was sent down there. Several SWAT team members were sent down there in plain clothes to work the area and city police provided numerous officers. It happened so fast that we don't have an exact count.”

Solano said late Monday night a tip came into another law enforcement agency saying the person behind the calls is actually someone who had a court hearing Monday afternoon and wanted it postponed.

Judges will have security at their homes, and there will be extra security at the courthouse Tuesday just in case.