Isaac Granado was a 32-year-old Hispanic man from Artesia, New Mexico. Born March 15, 1992, in Carlsbad, he was the son of Genevieve Granado and Edward Grado and the father of a son named Aiden. Family remembered him as someone who loved spending time with them and his friends and who was always willing to help.

On May 1, 2024, Eddy County Sheriff’s deputies responded to gunshots at a residence in the 700 block of West Champ Clarke Avenue in Artesia and found Granado with a gunshot wound to the abdomen after an reported altercation. Paramedics took him to Artesia General Hospital, but he succumbed to his injury. Deputies pursued a vehicle that fled the scene; a high-risk stop by Artesia police led to three occupants being detained and a 14-year-old boy being arrested and charged with second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and unlawful possession of a handgun by a minor.

Those charges were dismissed on May 22, 2024, after investigators concluded the teenager had acted in self-defense. Authorities said the investigation remained ongoing as of June 2024 and that they were reviewing whether charges were warranted against others involved. The death remains unsolved.

If anyone knew Isaac or has information about what happened that night, please share what was seen or heard.