On January 27, 2021, a tragic incident occurred at the Aztec Village Apartments, located at 4321 Montgomery Blvd NE in the Northeast Heights area of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Two women, Aerial Mallam, 21, and Jessica Casaus Lucero, 31, lost their lives in a violent shooting. The suspect in this double murder was identified as Josef Toney, who was just 16 years old at the time of the incident.
According to witnesses and police reports, Josef Toney arrived at the apartment complex on the
night of January 27, 2021. It is alleged that Toney shot both Aerial Mallam and Jessica Casaus Lucero, resulting in their immediate deaths at the scene. In addition to the murders, Toney also shot a third individual, Stephen Mitchell, three times as he fled the apartment. Fortunately, Mitchell survived his injuries.
The violence did not end there; Toney engaged in a gunfight with a fourth individual when he attempted to take a vehicle. During this exchange, Toney was shot but managed to survive his wounds and fled the scene on foot. This incident marked the beginning of a manhunt for Toney, who became a fugitive and remained at large for several months.
Josef Toney was eventually apprehended on November 11, 2021, in Denver, Colorado. At the time of his arrest, Toney was facing multiple charges in Bernalillo County related to the Albuquerque incident, including two open counts of murder, armed robbery, two counts of aggravated battery, child abuse, and tampering with evidence. In addition to these charges, Toney also faced new charges in Denver for armed robbery and kidnapping.
Toney's arrest brought some closure to the families of the victims, but the legal process was far from over. After his arrest and subsequent legal proceedings, Josef Toney was ultimately sentenced to 45 years in prison for the 2021 double murder. This sentencing was announced on October 16, 2024, marking the conclusion of the judicial aspect of this case.
