Murder charge dropped against Artesia teen
ARTESIA — A charge of murder stemming from a shooting incident that occurred in May have been dropped against an Artesia teenager.
Cmdr. Pete Quinones of the Artesia Police Department (APD) reported that the second-degree murder charge against the 14-year-old male minor had been dropped by the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
“The juvenile that was originally arrested for murder had charges dropped/dismissed after evidence was discovered that he was defending himself at the residence,” Quinones said.
The shooting took place around 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, in the 700 block of West Champ Clark Avenue. Law enforcement responded to find 32-year-old Isaac Granado had been shot. Granado was transported to Artesia General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Eddy County Sheriff’s Office deputies subsequently followed a vehicle from the scene to Memorial Drive in front of AGH, where a traffic stop was initiated. Three occupants of the vehicle were detained for questioning, and the APD Criminal Investigation Division determined one of the occupants to be the teenager involved in the shooting.
A charge of unlawful possession of a handgun by a person under the age of 19 remains in place.
