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Juan Valdez | Early Chicano activist, 74

Juan Valdez, 74, a land-grant activist who fired the first shot during a 1967 New Mexico courthouse raid that marked a more radical turn in the Chicano Movement, died Saturday at his ranch in Canjilon, N.M., after recently suffering two heart attacks, his daughter Juanita Montoya said.

FILE -- In this Feb. 2, 2012 photo, Chicano Movement leader Reies Lopez Tijerina, left, is greeted by rancher Juan Valdez, 74, of Canjilon, NM, right, after an event honoring the 164th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the New Mexico Statehouse in Santa Fe, N.M. Valdez, a land grant activist who fired the first shot during a 1967 New Mexico courthouse raid that grabbed international attention and helped spark the Chicano Movement, died Aug. 25, 2012. His daughter Juanita Montoya says the 74-year-old died peacefully Saturday at his ranch in Canjilon, N.M. (AP Photo/ Russell Contreras, file)
FILE -- In this Feb. 2, 2012 photo, Chicano Movement leader Reies Lopez Tijerina, left, is greeted by rancher Juan Valdez, 74, of Canjilon, NM, right, after an event honoring the 164th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the New Mexico Statehouse in Santa Fe, N.M. Valdez, a land grant activist who fired the first shot during a 1967 New Mexico courthouse raid that grabbed international attention and helped spark the Chicano Movement, died Aug. 25, 2012. His daughter Juanita Montoya says the 74-year-old died peacefully Saturday at his ranch in Canjilon, N.M. (AP Photo/ Russell Contreras, file)Read moreAP
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Juan Valdez, 74, a land-grant activist who fired the first shot during a 1967 New Mexico courthouse raid that marked a more radical turn in the Chicano Movement, died Saturday at his ranch in Canjilon, N.M., after recently suffering two heart attacks, his daughter Juanita Montoya said.

Heir to a northern New Mexico land grant, Mr. Valdez was 29 when he and a group of land-grant advocates, led by Reies Lopez Tijerina, raided a Rio Arriba County courthouse in Tierra Amarilla. Their goal was to attempt a citizens' arrest of then-District Attorney Alfonso Sanchez over Hispanic land-rights issues.

During the raid, it was Mr. Valdez who shot and wounded state police officer Nick Saiz. "Lucky for both of us, he didn't die," Mr. Valdez said.

After holding the courthouse for several hours, the armed group fled to the mountains as the National Guard and armored tanks chased them.

Mr. Valdez was convicted of assault and sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison. He was later pardoned by Gov. Bruce King.

- AP

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