Lobo basketball player accusing teammate of punching him informs UNM he may sue

Shane Douma-Sanchez, a second-year walk-on guard with the UNM Lobos men’s basketball team, says an argument with teammates during a trip to California escalated into him being punched.

Now, he has retained an attorney and informed the University of New Mexico in a tort claims notice he may sue because his coaches did not keep him safe or hold the other player accountable.

Douma-Sanchez, who recently had shoulder surgery which will prevent him from playing this season, told KRQE-TV in an on-camera interview on Tuesday that an argument during the Nov. 26 plane ride to California led to another incident once off the plane in which a teammate punched him in the face, fracturing his nose. He also said he was punched in his injured shoulder, which was in an arm sling.

On Nov. 27, Douma-Sanchez flew from Palm Springs, California, back home to Albuquerque and eventually went to the hospital on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) to get his injuries checked out. The rest of the team stayed in Palm Springs for the two-game Acrisure Classic.

Neither Douma-Sanchez, his family, nor his attorney, David Adams, have spoken with the Journal, which left both email and phone messages with the Albuquerque attorney on Tuesday.

UNM coach Richard Pitino on Tuesday in a regularly-scheduled press conference said he’s aware of the allegation.

“The university has issued a statement. We will follow those protocols,” Pitino said. “There’s not a whole lot I can talk about. We are handling any discipline matters internally. But other than that, there’s not a whole lot I could say specifically.”

UNM on Monday night confirmed it is investigating and stated it takes student safety seriously.

Tuesday, UNM added this statement when media was pressing for more information: “The University follows protocols and policies outlined by the student and student-athlete codes of conduct, as well as state and federal laws. How a matter is handled can take different or multiple pathways to an examination of the facts.

“It is imperative that we ensure the integrity of the way in which we obtain and review the facts and accounts associated with any allegation before issuing definitive statements on where matters currently stand. However, we will always share with the public what is allowable under the law and what does not jeopardize that integrity.

“That said, we will not comment on specific students or their interactions, as their records are protected by federal law.”

A Journal reporter with the team in California spoke at times with players, coaches, assistants, staff members, family of players and fans of the team and none mentioned an incident on the flight to the game.

Several people on the team’s travel party have indicated to the Journal that they had no idea Douma-Sanchez had injuries that required him to go to the hospital until after they returned home from their trip on Saturday.

KRQE on Tuesday showed a copy of a tort claims notice Adams says he sent to UNM’s Risk Management Division on Nov. 29 with the subject line: “Urgent Notice Concerning Student Safety.”

The Journal does not have a copy of the tort claims notice.

The letter, visible on the KRQE report, starts by stating, “It is with a saddened heart we sent this letter ...” and later indicates there were violations of New Mexico law and of the UNM student-athlete handbook.

It states Lobo coaches were negligent in their duty to protect players and that the incident is a “very serious matter involving possible felony criminal charges.”

No criminal charges were filed as of Tuesday night.

Douma-Sanchez, a Del Norte High School graduate, did not play in a game last season as a redshirt player to preserve a year of eligibility.

Both Douma-Sanchez and the teammate he says punched him remain on the Lobo basketball team.