http://www.cortezjournal.com/asp-bin/ar ... 0722_2.htm

Men face charges for local gunfight
Alleged road war leads to immigration counts


July 22, 2006
JOURNAL STAFF REPORT

DENVER - Two illegal immigrants involved in a highway gunfight east of Cortez are now facing federal immigration charges.

A grand jury has indicted Alberto Lopez-Salazar and Jose Luis Villa-Solorzano, charging them with unlawful gun possession and unlawful return of a deported alien. The two are cousins from Mexico.

The pair was involved in a rolling gunfight Feb. 2 on U.S. Highway 160 between the Colorado Highway 145 intersection and Navajo Butane.

According to court documents, the two men and a woman went to the home of Frankie Lopez IV on the morning of Feb. 2 to discuss the sale of a trailer. An argument broke out, and Lopez-Salazar threatened Frankie Lopez with a pistol.

Later that day, the two groups spotted each other in downtown Cortez. Lopez-Salazar and Villa-Solorzano turned around their Nissan Altima and shot at Frankie Lopez IV and his father, Frankie Lopez III, who were driving a Ford F-150. The elder Frankie Lopez fired back with a rifle. The rear window of the Nissan was shot out during the fight.

Lopez-Salazar and Villa-Solorzano pleaded not guilty to the immigration charges. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The two have a confusing array of aliases.

Lopez-Salazar is also known as Miguel Angel Rojas-Rosales and Joe Lopez. He was previously identified in court as Alberto Gustavo Villa.

Villa-Solorzano is also known as Jorge Lopez. He was previously identified in court as Jorge Cruz.

All four men are also facing state charges stemming from the incident. Frankie Lopez III and Frankie Lopez IV, both of Mancos, have pleaded not guilty to several felony charges. Their trial is scheduled for October.

The Lopezes from Mancos are not related to their adversaries in the gunfight.