San Juan County sheriff's deputies are looking for four Farmington residents believed to have been part of a shootout in the parking lot of Chili's Bar and Grill last Thursday, the Farmington Daily Times reported.

Jesus Lovato, 26, was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree aggravated assault on a peace officer and fourth-degree shooting from a motor vehicle in connection with the incident, the Daily Times said.

Lovato is believed to have pointed a handgun at a Farmington police officer who had been eating at the restaurant and tried to break up what appeared to be a gang-related argument that escalated into a shootout in the parking lot, the paper reported.

As many as eight people may have been involved in the fracas and as many as 11 shots were fired -- including one by a police officer -- but no one was injured, according to the Daily Times.

The four named in arrest warrants include Timothy Jaramillo, 19; Sam Lovato, 22; Leo Lovato, 22; and Aleander Wenger, 22, all of Farmington, the paper reported.

"We've got guys looking for the four suspects, and we've still got interviews to do and photo lineups to show witnesses," sheriff's Capt. Tim Black told the Daily Times.

The sheriff's department is investigating the incident since a Farmington police officer fired his weapon.

"The actions of the Farmington police officers in this incident prevented what could have turned into an extended gun battle and casualties of numerous uninvolved people in the area," Black told the Daily Times. 

8:15am 3/28/08 -- No One Hurt in Farmington Shootout: At least 11 rounds fired in Chili's parking lot Thursday night; including one from police officer.

An apparent gang-related argument inside a Chili's restaurant in Farmington Thursday night escalated into a shootout in the parking lot, where at least 11 shots were fired but no one was hurt, the Farmington Daily Times reported.

One of the shots was fired by a Farmington police officer who had been eating in the restaurant with an officer-in-training and witnessed the shootout, Farmington Police Capt. Jim Smith told the Daily Times.

"So far, we haven't had any indication of injury," Smith told the paper.

The shots were exchanged around 7:30 p.m. by at least three men standing outside a silver Daewoo Legacy and two others outside an unidentified white vehicle about 20 feet away, police told the Daily Times.

Officer Jared Stock approached the scene and identified himself as a police officer and one of the men standing by the Daewoo pointed a weapon at Stock who fired one shot that missed, Smith said.

Both vehicles drove away from the scene, but one man left behind was arrested, the Daily Times said.

The Daewoo was later found parked nearby, riddled with bullet holes, and two suspects from that car were found in the vicinity and arrested, the paper reported.

Two uninvolved vehicles in the Chili's parking lot also were struck by stray bullets, but no bystanders were reported injured, the Daily Times said.

The San Juan County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident because a Farmington police officer was involved, the paper reported. 

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