Family of student killed during football game takes Mexico varsity to court

The family of Travis, a student of the University of New Mexico who died at a Rio Grande rivalry football game in October of 2022 has instituted a legal action against the institution.

After he was beaten up by NMSU basketball player Michael Peake in that October brawl, police say UNM student, Brandon Travis, and his friends lured Peake to the UNM campus the night before the rivalry game in Albuquerque.

According to police report, they tried to jump Peake when Peake ran away and exchanged gunfire with Travis. Travis died at the scene.

Now his family is taking legal action. Travis’s parents are suing NMSU, along with former basketball coaches Greg Heiar and Dominique Taylor, as well as Athletic Director Mario Moccia.

The lawsuit claims that before the fatal shooting, the coaches were aware of some of their players carrying guns on campuses and never intervened. It also calls out the coaches and NMSU for not disciplining Peake after the October fight.

In November 2022 press conference after the shooting, Moccia told the press they did take action after the seeing the video of the October fight.

“With regard to our men’s basketball player Michael Peake, athletics was aware of an altercation with him and some other individuals at the October 15 football game between New Mexico State and [the] University of New Mexico, and discipline measures were taken at that time,” said Moccia.

He did not elaborate on what disciplinary action was taken.