3 more Kennewick park shooting victims named. All linked to gangs

At least two guns were used in the Friday night shooting in a Kennewick park that left one man dead and three wounded.

Investigators are still trying to work out the details of exactly what happened just before 8 p.m. in Eastgate Park.

While they know that those wounded or killed are members of a street gang, they can’t yet say if it was a shootout or if a couple of people opened fire on the group.

Kennewick officers and Benton County sheriff’s deputies arrived at the park near the Benton County Fairgrounds to find Armando Rodriguez-Willis, 29, dead from bullet wounds.

Two others were wounded and taken to Trios Southridge Hospital.

They were Martin Olivera, 36, of Pasco, and Santiago Ayala, 32, of Kennewick.

As officers began their initial investigation they were given the description of a truck that may have been involved, said Lt. Aaron Clem.

A few minutes later a truck matching that description dropped off a gunshot victim, later identified as Jimmy T.R. Cuellar, 31, of Kennewick, at Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco, he said.

Pasco police later spotted the truck at 718 S. Waldemar Ave. in Pasco, and they got a search warrant.

The Benton Franklin Regional SWAT team responded to the house to make it safe for investigators to search it early Saturday. And the truck was impounded so it could be searched later.

At least 2 guns used in shooting

Clem said based on witness interviews and evidence at the initial crime scene, investigators know that the four victims are gang members.

“We also know that at least two different firearms were fired at the scene,” he said.

Detectives spent all night Friday at the park talking to neighbors and witnesses, and documenting and collecting evidence along with the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team.

They cordoned off a large section of the park with police tape, and used a drone to gather video images of the scene.

Clem said the detectives took a break Sunday and were back at it Monday.

3 men still alive

Olivera’s criminal history back to 1999 includes convictions for two drug possessions, making a false statement to a public servant, bail jumping and vehicle prowling.

Court records show Ayala has a 2018 conviction for fourth-degree assault.

Cuellar’s history includes robbery, identity theft, possessing stolen property and vehicle prowling.

Charges of robbery and rioting, filed in 2011 for an alleged attack on a Pasco hot dog vendor, were later dismissed.

Clem said thankfully the three men shot are still alive. However, he said there always is a concern that either they may try to retaliate or that associates may retaliate for the shooting.

Benton County Coroner Bill Leach said the autopsy for Rodriguez-Willis is scheduled Tuesday morning. Investigators then should know how many times he was shot and any other injuries.

The shooting is less than six blocks from where a pregnant 20-year-old woman was killed in early May in what police described as a gang-related attack.

Clem said Monday there is nothing so far to indicate the two separate shootings are connected.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call non-emergency dispatch at 509-628-0333.

People also can contact Tri-Cities Crime Stoppers at 509-586-8477, 800-222-8477 or online at www.tricitiescrimestoppers.org.

Crime Stoppers offers up to $1,000 for information leading to a felony arrest. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

This story was originally published July 29, 2019 at 12:50 PM.