In the winter of 2022, a young man's life was tragically cut short in a motel on the west side of the Denver metropolitan area. Angel Santibanez, a 29-year-old Hispanic male, was a father, son, and brother known for his creative spirit and infectious laughter that could fill a room. He had a passion for making music and art, and above all, cherished spending time with his son and family. Those who knew him described him as someone who could always find a way to make people laugh, no matter the circumstances.
On Monday, January 24, 2022, the vibrant life of Angel Santibanez came to a violent end. Shortly before noon, police responded to reports of a shooting at the Trails End Motel in Lakewood. Inside one of the rooms, they discovered Angel suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. The news of his sudden and violent death sent shockwaves through his family and friends, who were left to grapple with the senseless loss of a man described as a loving and creative soul.
In the days that followed the tragic event, the Lakewood Police Department launched an intensive investigation to bring those responsible for Angel's death to justice. Their efforts led them to identify two suspects in connection with the homicide. Overnight on the following Wednesday, police arrested 24-year-old Maliq Alston Williamson and 35-year-old Antonio Antiwon Johnson. Williamson was taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree murder, while Johnson was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to first-degree murder. Both men were booked into the Jefferson County Detention Center, leaving a grieving family to seek closure through the legal process that would follow.
