A guy in his 30s from Washington state is accused of killing a woman in an apartment that was attached to a garage.
A Facebook post from the Pasco Police Department said that Jonathon Villegas is being charged with second-degree murder in the death of Lupita Ponce-Penaloza, a mother of three who was 23 years old. Early in the morning on July 23, police were called to an apartment building near 20th Street and Marie Avenue to report a shooting. At the time the police arrived, Ponce-Penaloza was shot several times and was not breathing. It was decided that she was dead at the spot.
The suspect, Villegas, was quickly identified, and he was caught on Friday about 65 miles south of Pendleton, Oregon. He is still being held without bond in the Umatilla County Jail until he is sent back to Washington.
According to an arrest statement that the Tri-City Herald got, Ponce-Penaloza was afraid of Villegas, whom she called “Trucha.”
According to the affidavit, Lupita asked her friend in texts if Trucha had tried to set her up. “There was also a text message sent from Lupita telling this friend that the friend may need her to call ‘911 if s— goes down.'”
It was said that two roommates who lived in the apartment and saw the shooting gave slightly different stories. The victim and the suspect were said to have come to the flat together. It is said that Villegas reached under a coffee table, pulled out a.45 caliber pistol, and shot Ponce-Penaloza. He then let another man in and they both shot the victim.
Someone else in the room said there was only one shot. However, two different caliber casings were found at the apartment, according to the lawsuit.
A second suspect hasn’t been caught yet. Police have also not said publicly why the killing happened.
“The arrest doesn’t mean that the investigation is over.” “Pasco Detectives are still looking into the details of this case,” the police said on Facebook.
The sister of Ponce-Penaloza set up a GoFundMe to help pay for her son’s funeral and other costs.
Liz Ponce wrote, “We lost a sister, but also a mother and a friend.” … ” Lupita was the best sister. Even when we had family problems, she always found a way to make us laugh and get back together.
