Joshua Villa
Silver City, NM – On October 9, 2026 District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced that 37-year-old Joshua Villa has been held without bond after being charged with First-Degree Murder, Possession of a firearm by a felon, Agg. Assault and Possession of a Controlled substance, in connection with the shooting death of Austin Alan Walsmith.
Sixth Judicial Chief Deputy District Attorney George Zsoka represented the State during the hearing. The presiding judge was the Honorable Jim Foy of the Sixth Judicial District Court. Joshua Villa voluntarily waived his right to both a preliminary hearing and to a detention hearing as provided by the rule of criminal procedure and will be held without bond pending final disposition of his case.
On September 16, 2026, Officers of the Silver City Police Department responded to a shooting at 226 S. Corbin Street. They discovered the victim Walsmith, deceased from multiple gunshot wounds lying in the yard of the residence.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots and one was able to identify Villa as the shooter, driving away from the scene in a Black Truck.
Officers from New Mexico State Police, the Luna County Sheriff’s Office and the Sixth Judicial District Attorney’s office Investigators assisted with the investigation. EMS personnel responded to the scene.
