In the warm evening of June 27, 2019, a house party on Quetzl Drive SW in Albuquerque, New Mexico, turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 19-year-old Isaiah Villanueva. A Hispanic male and a Specialist in the U.S. Army, Villanueva was known for his infectious smile and kind heart. He was a member of the 601st Transportation Detachment, 372nd Quartermaster Battalion, and was remembered by loved ones for his positive influence.
His passions included hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.
That night, an argument reportedly broke out at the party. Two 17-year-olds, Angel Grado and Timothy Malek, had arrived armed. Witnesses later told investigators that Grado had been showing off a handgun with an extended magazine and had made threats. Accounts of what happened next vary. One partygoer claimed to see Malek fire two or three shots at Villanueva during an argument near the back of the house. Grado, however, told a different story, stating that after being punched, he fired a single shot that struck Villanueva. In the chaos that ensued, two other individuals were also wounded by gunfire.
Following the shooting, Grado and Malek fled the scene in a car with two girls. Grado admitted to throwing his gun out of the car window as they drove down Interstate 25. Witnesses at the party reported that the vehicle returned, and Malek fired shots at the house from the passenger seat. An investigation led to the arrest of both teenagers. Angel Grado was charged with an open count of murder. Timothy Malek faced seven charges, including murder, but the prosecution later dismissed all charges against him, stating they were unable to proceed with the case.
Angel Grado's legal journey was complex, involving a retrial. After initial deliberations in March 2022, his retrial concluded on August 17, 2022. A jury found Grado guilty of voluntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence but acquitted him of the more severe charge of second-degree murder. The verdict brought a measure of closure to a case that had seen protests outside the courthouse during hearings, as a family and community mourned the loss of a young soldier.
