EVERETT — An Arlington man who shot to death another man inside an Everett house has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for illegal gun possession.
Snohomish County prosecutors have agreed not to charge Jose Eduardo Espinoza Aguilar for the deadly shooting. They say evidence shows that Espinoza Aguilar, 23, fired his gun in self-defense.
Martin Guzman Garrido, 43, was shot multiple times Dec. 20 and died inside a house in the 4100 block of Colby Avenue.
Espinoza Aguilar was arrested three days later. He was driving a stolen pickup truck in North Bend, and officers found a handgun outside the vehicle. He admitted that he’d used the gun to shoot Guzman Garrido.
He said there had been an argument and Guzman Garrido pulled on him first, court papers said. He grabbed his own weapon and fired numerous times.
At the time of the shooting, Espinoza Aguilar had a warrant for his arrest tied to different gun case. Espinoza Aguilar was convicted last year of felony drug charges and is prohibited from having any firearms.
Marysville police found a stolen handgun in his vehicle during a traffic stop in August. There also was a methamphetamine pipe in the car and other drug paraphernalia.
He was charged in November with unlawful gun possession but failed to show up for a court hearing.
Police were hunting for him about a month later in connection with Guzman Garrido’s death.
Witnesses told detectives that Espinoza Aguilar came to the house on Colby to visit with friends. A woman called Guzman Garrido and asked him to come over so they could settle an ongoing dispute, according to court records.
The defendant and the victim began arguing and guns were drawn.
Espinoza Aguilar fled the scene in a stolen pickup truck. Police found a stolen 9mm handgun in the living room and the victim was found on the kitchen floor.
Espinoza Aguilar pleaded guilty last week to two counts of illegal gun possession and possession of a stolen vehicle.
The judge ordered Espinoza Aguilar, once he’s released from prison, to register as a felony firearm offender with the county sheriff. He’ll be required to register every year for four years.
The sheriff also could require Espinoza Aguilar to be photographed and fingerprinted.
The registration law was passed in 2013. The registry is maintained by the Washington State Patrol and available to law enforcement.
Since the law’s passage judges have not always ordered defendants who have committed firearms crimes to register.
Legislation was proposed this year to make it a requirement for certain offenses, including serious violent crimes or crimes against children.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
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