Day of deadly gang-related shooting detailed at murder trial

EVERETT — A south Everett teenager testified Monday that he and other gang members were hunting for rivals in the hours before 17-year-old Anthony Camacho was gunned down outside a party in 2015.

He and his buddies sought out rival gang members even after the shooting. He told jurors he didn’t know at the time that Camacho was dead.

Guillermo Padilla said he spotted police cars near the house where Camacho was shot as he and another friend drove to get car parts later that morning. He said he saw posts “all over Facebook” that Camacho had been hit by gunfire.

Padilla, 17, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2015 deadly shooting. Investigators believe Diego Tavares used Padilla’s .22-caliber semi-automatic in the killing. Tavares, 20, is on trial for first-degree murder.

The killing is believed to be tied to an ongoing feud among four gangs. Camacho’s family has said he wasn’t in a gang but had friends who were. The feud has been at the heart of multiple shootings in south Everett, inside and outside city limits. Detectives have struggled to make arrests in several of the cases because of uncooperative victims and witnesses.

Padilla agreed to cooperate with investigators in exchange for a reduced charge. Prosecutors plan to recommend a 12-year prison sentence. A second teen, Edgar Calixto, testified last week. Detectives believe he drove Tavares to the house where Camacho was killed. Calixto also has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Padilla spent most of Monday on the witness stand, detailing his involvement in the street gang.

Months before Camacho was killed, Padilla was riding in a pickup truck that was hit by gunfire from a rival gang member. One of the bullets pierced his friend’s chest. The 15-year-old survived the shooting.

Padilla matter-of-factly explained how after that incident he bought a handgun from another gang member for $100.

“I figured I should upgrade to something more protective,” he told jurors.

Padilla also admitted that shortly after buying the handgun he accidentally shot himself in the leg while driving. He didn’t go to a hospital. “I cleaned it with alcohol and let it heal,” the teen said.

Padilla testified that to be part of the gang he was expected to be armed at all times. He also needed to complete a mission — either shooting at a rival or beating one up.

Padilla told jurors he and other gang members went looking for rivals on Dec. 11, 2015. Many in his group were armed. That didn’t pan out and most of the group went their separate ways.

Hours later he said he was woken up when Calixto called. He told Padilla that Tavares had called to say that he’d been shot at. Padilla testified that Calixto picked him up and they and another gang member went searching for Tavares. They found Tavares outside a bank, he said. He appeared angry and high, Padilla said.

The teen told jurors that the gang learned that rivals were having a party at a south Everett house. He testified about driving to the house and parking nearby. Padilla said that Tavares grabbed Padilla’s gun and headed toward the house. A short time later, Padilla heard multiple gunshots. Tavares, he said, returned to the car moments later.

Padilla told jurors that Tavares said he saw a body drop.

The teen testified that the trio stopped at a gas station after spotting another rival outside. That boy ran but they confronted his friends. Eventually, Calixto and Padilla dropped Tavares off at a friend’s house. Padilla said Tavares kept the gun. Police have never recovered the weapon.

Public defender Amy Kaestner poked holes in Padilla’s testimony, pointing out the lies he told police on multiple occasions. His story has changed over time, including his claims that he was initiated into the gang before Camacho’s death. She also grilled him about when he changed his screen name on Facebook to “Triggerz.”

Padilla admitted Monday that he was “jumped in” at a meeting hours after Camacho’s killing. He also told jurors that he didn’t have any contact with Tavares after the shooting, although he made multiple calls to Calixto and the fourth person in the car.

Jurors were shown some of Padilla’s Facebook posts, making light of Camacho’s death.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.

This story was modified to correctly identify the public defender as Amy Kaestner.