Blackwell's trial begins for the 2019 battery acid attack of Hispanic man outside a Southside Milwaukee Mexican restaurant.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
April 26, 2022
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, the trial of Clifton Blackwell, 64, continued with jury selection. Blackwell's trial will be televised, according to Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Jean Marie Kies, Court Branch 45.
Blackwell was criminally charged for the chemical acid attack of Muhad Villalaz 42, on November 1, 2019 in Milwaukee's Southside, according to Milwaukee County Court records.
Villalaz is originally from Peru and became a U.S. Citizen. According to Villalaz, Blackwell called him an "illegal", including other racial slurs and told him that he should go back to his country.
Blackwell was charged on November 6, 2019 in Milwaukee County with one felony count of 1st-degree reckless injury with a hate crime enhancer including use of a dangerous weapon in connection with the November 1st chemical acid attack of Villalaz. If convicted, Blackwell is facing up to 25 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines.
Villalaz in November 2019 was hospitalized after he was attacked by Blackwell with the chemical acid during a verbal dispute at the 2600 block of S. 13th Street in the Southside of Milwaukee, according to the criminal complaint.
Villalaz had just arrived at the Taqueria La Sierrita restaurant located at S. 13 and W. Cleveland when he encountered Blackwell and got into a verbal dispute over a parking spot near a bus route 19 stop before the suspect threw the chemical acid at Villalaz, after telling him to go back to his country including using other verbal racial slurs and then fled on foot.
Blackwell and Villalaz's verbal dispute including Blackwell dousing Villalaz with the chemical acid was recorded by an outdoor video surveillance camera from the restaurant. Blackwell was taken into custody by police shortly after the incident.
Blackwell is a U.S. military Veteran and served in the U.S. Marines, which his family says suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In 2006, Blackwell was convicted for a felony charge in Rusk County for pointing a weapon at an individual.
Blackwell is a Trump supporter, according to a woman that operates a local business, which Blackwell used to frequent and is considered a racist just like Trump himself.
Former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett condemned Blackwell's acid attack on Villalaz and blamed Trump's anti-immigrant and hate rhetoric including his attempt to divide the country.
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