A grieving Colorado uncle allegedly body-slammed the defense attorney who was representing his nephew’s accused killer, knocking him unconscious and fracturing his spine.
Daniel Ashby, 36, was charged with second-degree assault for using an “MMA-style takedown” on attorney H. Michael Steinberg inside the Arapahoe County Courthouse in Littleton, Col., on Monday, CBS Colorado reported.
Ashby was attending a court hearing for 19-year-old Christopher Ramirez-Rodriguez, who is accused of running a red light and killing Ashby’s 12-year-old nephew in July.
Steinberg was representing Ramirez-Rodriguez when Ashby allegedly “aggressively approached” him in the hallway outside the courtroom while trying “to see the defendant,” according to an arrest record obtained by the outlet.
Police said Steinberg pushed Ashby back to create space, after which Ashby allegedly carried out an “MMA-style takedown,” which left the longtime lawyer unconscious.
Steinberg — who has frequently appeared as a guest on CNN and Fox News — was rushed to a local hospital, where he was treated for multiple spinal fractures.
In an email sent Tuesday, Steinberg told CBS Colorado he also suffered a “shattered pelvis,” was in “serious pain,” and is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday.
Ashby was immediately taken into custody at the courthouse. Court officials said the hallway incident was not captured on video.
Ashby is being held at the Arapahoe County Jail on a $75,000 bond and is due back in court Friday in connection with the alleged assault, according to jail records viewed by The Post.
Ashby’s older brother, Michael Ashby — the father of the 12-year-old victim — said he attended Monday’s hearing but did not witness the incident.
He said the entire family has been attending court proceedings and that emotions were running high.
“The whole family is frustrated with this legal system,” Michael Ashby told CBS Colorado, adding that there has been significant tension between the two families.
Court records show the judge overseeing the case later warned both families against “taking justice into their own hands.”
According to public records cited by the outlet, Ashby has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple violations of protective orders and jail sentences.
Ramirez-Rodriguez is accused of killing Ashby’s 12-year-old nephew at around 10 a.m. on July 19 when he ran a red light as the boy was crossing the road on his electric scooter, the Aurora Police Department said.
Police said he remained at the scene and was cooperative. Drugs or alcohol were not suspected, but distracted driving was being investigated as a contributing factor.
Ramirez-Rodriguez was charged with careless driving resulting in death.
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