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PASCO -- Pasco police are looking for two men in connection to the stabbing death of a Kennewick man early Sunday outside the El Patron Night Club in Pasco.
The 41-year-old victim, Froilan Godines, was a security guard at the nightclub at 1107 W. Lewis St.
Police say they are looking for Adan Virgen-Ponce, 28, and Concepcion Virgen, 20, addresses unknown. The two men are believed to be cousins, police reported.
A witness, who asked not to be identified, said she saw one of the suspects in the club before the incident occurred.
"Adan was here with his girlfriend and left about 1:15 a.m.," the witness said. "Froilan looked at Adan when he walked out the door to make sure he wasn't carrying a drink out with him."
Adan Virgen-Ponce smart-mouthed the security guard saying, "What are you looking at?" the witness said. "Froilan then tells him he was just making sure he wasn't carrying any liquor out with him. Then Adan gets all pissed off and starts to bitch him out."
The confrontation attracted the attention of other bar patrons who came outside and told Adan Virgen to leave the premises or police would be called. "He said OK, OK, I'm leaving," the witness said. "But then he pointed a finger at Froilan and said, 'But I'll be back.' "
The security guard left the bar after it closed at 2 a.m. and headed to his car, which was parked in the Pasco School District's parking lot next to El Patron.
"A few minutes after he left through the back door a woman came to the front windows, pounding her fists on the glass telling us a man is bleeding and to call 911, which we did," the witness said.
Police reports stated an officer found the security guard lying in the alley with multiple stab wounds. He was transported to Lourdes Medical Center and died a short time later.
The men are believed to have fled the scene in a white 1996 Dodge Stratus with Washington license plate number 202-SXL.
Adan Virgen-Ponce is described as about 5-foot-8, 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Concepcion Virgen is about 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information about either man is asked to call the Pasco Police Department's investigation division at 545-3484.
The witness described the victim, who was married and the father of two children, as a peaceful man who handled the nightclub's security issues with diplomacy and kindness.
"He was the best security guard," the witness said with tears in her eyes. "He stayed on top of things, made sure IDs were carefully checked before letting anyone into the bar, and he looked out for everyone -- the people who worked there as well as the customers."
Franklin County Coroner Dan Blasdel said an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.
