Former NMSU Kappa Sigma fraternity member sentenced for shooting student as hazing

ALBUQUERQUE - A former New Mexico State University fraternity member who shot another student during a hazing ritual last year was given an 18-month suspended sentence on Friday.

Miguel Altamirano, 22, pleaded no contest 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.

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

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"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.