Former NMSU frat member gets suspended sentence for shooting, injuring student as hazing

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — A former New Mexico State University fraternity member who shot another student during a hazing ritual last year has been given an 18-month suspended sentence.

Miguel Altamirano, 22, pleaded no contest Friday to charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and negligent use of a deadly weapon while intoxicated.

“It’s troubling… and it goes beyond proper gun safety. It can be deadly and fortunately that’s not the case,” said Judge Steven Blankinship.

Altamirano shot Jonathan Sillas in the leg at a campground in November 2019 during hazing for the Kappa Sigma fraternity at the university.

“I expected a little bit of hazing. I didn’t think they were going to hurt us,” Sillas said two months after he was hospitalized.

The university revoked Kappa Sigma’s charter and Altamirano was expelled.

“I know words can’t make up for what I did but I hope that one day he’ll be able to forgive me,” said Altamirano.