Teenage serviceman killed
By Beth Blakeman
Managing Editor
A 19-year-old Diné
U. S. Army SPC lost his life at a party two years ago. On Sept. 27, the then-17-year-old accused of killing him will be in Albuquerque Children’s Court.
Isaiah Villanueva was a half-Navajo New Mexico native who joined the U. S. Army at the age of 17. He was accepted to train with security forces and signed up for six years.
But about two-and-a-half years in, Villanueva attended a party in Albuquerque. He was fatally shot there.
It was June 27, 2019, when two 17-year-olds identified as Angel Grado and Timothy Malek arrived at a party on Quetzl Drive SW in Albuquerque armed with guns.
During the course of the gathering, one person reportedly took offense at how a female was being treated and an argument ensued.
One of the partygoers told investigators that Grado was angry and spent time showing off a gun with an extended magazine.
One person he showed it to told detectives that when he asked Grado about the gun, the teen threatened to kill him.
At least six people were questioned about the incident and told authorities that they heard two or three rounds of gunfire that night.
But there were some varying versions of who was shooting when and where.
Grado was not the only person carrying a gun. Malek was also armed.
At the time of the quarrel, One of the people at the party said Malek and another male were arguing near the back door of the house and Grado was nearby. The partygoer said Malek pulled his pistol and fired two or three rounds at the male, who was later identified as Isaiah Villanueva.
But Grado had a different story. He said someone punched him at the backdoor near the kitchen and he fired a shot which hit Villanueva and then ran from the scene and got into a car with Malek and two girls. Grado said they drove eastbound and wound up on I-25 where he threw the gun out the window.
People at the party said the car doubled back and Malek shot at the house from the passenger seat.
In all, one person was killed and two suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to a hospital.
Grado was detained and charged with an open count of murder. His case is scheduled in the Children’s Court Division in Albuquerque Sept. 27.
Malek was charged with seven counts, including murder. The prosecution dismissed all the charges against Malek, saying it was unable to proceed.
The family of the late Army SPC Isaiah Villanueva is hoping the case against Grado, coming up in Albuquerque Children’s Court Sept. 27th will bring justice for Isaiah.
They have set up a Facebook page at #JusticeForIsaiah.
