Everett teen pleads guilty in south Everett gang shooting

EVERETT — A week after Guillermo Padilla turned 16, he handed another teenager a loaded .22-caliber gun, knowing that his friend was out for blood.

Minutes later Anthony Camacho, 17, was on the ground, dying from a gunshot wound to the head. His buddies loaded him into a car and dropped him off at a local hospital. He died at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

A couple of days later Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives arrested Padilla and two other teens, including the suspected shooter, Diego Tavares, 19. Detectives say the Dec. 12 killing was motivated by a gang rivalry that has led to bloodshed in the past.

Padilla on Thursday pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He is being prosecuted as an adult because of the serious nature of the crime. The Everett teen faces up to 18 years in prison when he’s sentenced in July. Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Craig Matheson is expected to recommend a 12-year prison sentence.

The other two defendants, both charged with first-degree murder, are scheduled to go to trial in June.

“The murder was apparently part of the ongoing violence between various gangs in south Everett,” Matheson wrote in charging papers.

Tavares allegedly was “amped up” when he told Padilla and Edgar Calixto, also 16, that rival gang members shot at him the previous day. He said he wanted revenge, the boys told police.

Tavares saw on Facebook that the other gang was having a party Dec. 11. He allegedly arranged to meet up with Padilla and Calixto. Tavares and the other boys were driving around south Everett early Dec. 12. Calixto parked after Tavares allegedly said he saw some of the guys that shot at him standing on a back patio in the 12000 block of Fourth Place W.

Padilla told detectives Tavares asked for a weapon and he passed him a .22-caliber handgun. Padilla said he knew something bad was going to happen. Tavares hopped out of the car. The other teens remained behind and reported hearing gunshots. Tavares ran back to the car and yelled at Calixto to drive. He handed the gun back to Padilla, court papers said.

Padilla later gave the handgun to an acquittance. He and Calixto told police they were both armed with other guns at the time of the shooting. Detectives seized guns when the boys were arrested at their homes.

Padilla bragged about the shooting on Facebook. He also made an overt threat to shoot up the house of a witness, court papers said.

Padilla changed his online profile name to “Triggerz Padilla” after the homicide.

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

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

A wall diagram shows the “journey of the ballot” at the new Elections Center on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Auditor: No need for feds to meddle with state or local elections

Garth Fell’s comments were in response to a report of Justice Department mulling criminal charges against election officials.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

A trash hauler from Republic Services. (Provided photo)
Growing Teamsters strike disrupts garbage pickup in Snohomish County

Republic Services said a temporary work stoppage is causing some customers in the county to experience “temporary service delays.”

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

‘Courageous’ teen dives into Silver Lake to rescue 11-year-old

Gauge Bryant, 13, brought the child to the surface. The 11-year-old is in stable but critical condition, authorities said.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.