Renton, Washington – A 16-year-old boy faced a judge at juvenile court with bail set at $1 million for allegedly killing another teen in Renton over the weekend. This tragic incident took place in a neighborhood near Highlands Elementary School, where 15-year-old Jaime Villeda lost his life in a shooting. The suspect, who was already on electronic home monitoring for a previous shooting incident, called 911 after the shooting and remained at the scene until first responders arrived to take Villeda to the hospital.
During the shooting incident, the suspect used an untraceable “ghost gun” to fatally shoot Villeda, with both the victim and suspect known to each other. The 16-year-old had been placed under electronic home monitoring after being involved in a drive-by shooting in Renton on November 7, 2023, according to authorities. It is believed that Villeda, the victim in this tragic incident, was one of the individuals targeted in the earlier shooting.
The suspect appeared in court, where Judge Veronica Galvan addressed the conditions set for him while on electronic home monitoring for the prior shooting case. However, despite these conditions, the suspect was found to have violated them, leading to the tragic outcome. The judge found probable cause to charge him with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. The suspect is scheduled to appear in court again on April 18 for further proceedings.
Chief Jon Schuldt of the Renton Police Department expressed concern over the rise in teen crime in the area, highlighting recent incidents involving teenagers engaging in dangerous and criminal behavior that is putting communities at risk. Schuldt emphasized the need for consequences for such actions to ensure community safety.
Friends and loved ones of Villeda fondly remembered him as a caring and joyful individual who always looked out for others. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Villeda’s family in the wake of this tragedy.
This tragic incident underscores the escalating issue of teen crime in Renton, as law enforcement authorities grapple with the challenges posed by youth engaging in criminal activities. As the community mourns the loss of a young life, questions arise about the effectiveness of current measures to address and prevent such incidents in the future.