A $1,000 debt, some harsh words and a hail of bullets were the raw ingredients for a double slaying at an Edmonds apartment complex Aug. 25, Snohomish County prosecutors said Wednesday.
An argument over money borrowed to buy a used Jeep Cherokee apparently sparked the gunbattle that ended with two deaths and two men facing second-degree murder charges, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor John Adcock said.
The prosecutor on Wednesday filed murder charges against Pedro Alonso Esparaza-Barajas, 36, and Adriel Facundo Romero, 34, both of Edmonds.
They are accused in the shooting deaths of Nolberto “Paul” Lopez-Rodriguez, 36, and Adan Hernandez, 23.
Esparaza-Barajas, who also used the name Carlos Chavez, is jailed in lieu of $1 million bail. He was arrested Saturday in Eastern Washington on an unrelated gun charge.
Police are still looking for Romero, who was known to neighbors by the nickname “Pancho” and to authorities by several different aliases, Adcock said in court papers.
A search of Romero’s apartment after the shootings turned up 5 ounces of methamphetamine and an AK-47 assault rifle, the prosecutor said.
Detectives were told that the gunfire erupted after insults were exchanged when Lopez-Rodriguez attempted to pay Romero $1,000 that Romero had loaned Lopez-Rodriguez’s brother, Adcock said.
Prosecutors say Romero pulled a handgun and began shooting. Lopez-Rodriguez returned fire. Esparaza-Barajas, who lives with Romero, began shooting as well.
“Adan Hernandez may have also had a gun, it’s not known if he fired,” Adcock said in court papers.
The defendants fled before police arrived, leaving behind the two mortally wounded men.
Detectives learned that Romero has a wife and children, and a history of arrests for shoplifting and auto theft. Esparaza-Barajas has felony convictions for auto theft, eluding police and burglary, plus numerous arrests for illegal entry into the United States, according to prosecutors.
Reporter Scott North: 425-339-3431 or north@heraldnet.com.
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