3 arrested after SWAT raid, shooting in same day at troubled Kennewick apartments
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kennewick Police arrested two men in a targeted armed robbery investigation.
- Search warrants yielded firearms, narcotics and evidence tied to the July 27 crime.
- Officials confirmed no ongoing threat; investigation continues with possible charges.
A troubled Kennewick apartment complex was at the center of two serious police incidents this week.
A man was shot at the Heatherstone Apartments, 1114 W. 10th Ave., at about 10 p.m. Wednesday, and earlier that day the Tri-Cities SWAT teams carried out a raid at the complex and a Richland home related to an armed robbery.
Kennewick police responded to a call reporting a man had been shot outside the apartment building.
They described the shooter as wearing a black shirt and baseball cap, show Benton County court documents.
When officers arrived, they found the victim on the ground with a gunshot wound to his left thigh, and two men standing nearby.
One man, Emanual Naranjo-Hernandez matched the description given to officers.
The victim also pointed to Naranjo-Hernandez and told officers, “That guy shot me.”
Naranjo-Hernandez’s brother Miguel told officers that they were working on a car in their apartment complex garage when the victim approached them and said he wanted to fight one of them.
Miguel said he fought the man, and as he was walking away the victim said, “I’ll turn you into swiss cheese,” according to court documents.
Naranjo-Hernandez ran into their apartment and ran back to his brother, who was following the victim.
At that point, Naranjo-Hernandez pulled out a gun, and Miguel told him, “don’t kill him,” according to the documents.
Naranjo-Hernandez then allegedly shot the man in the leg.
He later reportedly told officers he wounded the man.
The gun was found nearby.
The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.
Naranjo-Hernnandez was arrested and booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of first-degree assault, a Class A felony. He remains in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
During an initial court appearance, a prosecutor asked for the higher bail, telling the court, “Mr. Naranjo-Hernandez’s history is of someone who just doesn’t follow the rules.”
Court records show how he had a previous arrest from December 2024 and a drug -offense from 2019.
SWAT Raid
Earlier that day, Kennewick police, along with multiple regional law enforcement teams, served two coordinated search warrants connected to a July 29 armed robbery. The investigation led to the arrests of two suspects and the seizure of guns, drugs and more.
Police say the arrests followed an investigation after a man was robbed at gunpoint in his home by multiple suspects.
The robbery happened at a home on the 1200 block of West Kennewick Avenue. Investigators say the crime was targeted.
The victim told police that he answered his door just after 1 p.m. on July 29 and found Mark Andrew Barnett, 39, standing there with two other men he did not know, according to court documents.
The men went inside, pulled out guns and demanded the victim’s phone.
He handed the phone to Barnett and was told to log into the phone and Cashapp. The man had just received his Social Security payment, according to documents.
He had met Barnett, who lives in the Heatherstone Apartments, about a week before and believed they were friends.
The robbers allegedly transfered $2,000 from the victim’s bank account to his Cashapp, then transferred $1,000 to Barnett and $1,000 to a woman.
The victim said the “tall” suspect seemed to be calling the shots, according to court documents.
The man, who police described as 6’5” was identified as Matthew Miller, 34. Investigators said he is the boyfriend of the unidentified woman. They also took some fentanyl powder from the victim.
The victim told police he thought the men were going to kill him, but instead they berated him.
The suspects allegedly fled in a silver Kia Amanti registered to Barnett’s mother.
After canvassing the Heatherstone Apartments, investigators contacted several people familiar with the vehicle and Barnett’s apartment.
His unit was described as the “Burger King drive thru for crack” due to Barnett allegedly dealing drugs through a window, according to court documents.
Barnett and Miller cannot legally possess guns because of their criminal history. Barnett is a 16-time convicted felon, according to court records.
After surveilling both of the men and spotting them meeting up, investigators requested a search warrant for Barnett’s apartment at Heatherstone and for Miller’s home on the 900 block of Benham Street in Richland.
SWAT took Barnett into custody at the Heatherstone Apartments after a short standoff on Wednesday. Police found a loaded .380 pistol and a box of Hornady critical defense ammunition.
Miller was arrested by SWAT team members at the Richland home the same day.
He later allegedly told investigators he was involved in the robbery.
He claimed he only saw Barnett with a BB gun, and said to his knowledge Barnett didn’t actually get anything from the robbery.
Barnett was taken to a local hospital after complaining about severe fentanyl withdrawals. He missed his initial court appearance Thursday because he was sick, prosecutors said.
In all, police seized multiple guns, firearm accessories, replica guns, drugs and other items relevant to the case.
Kennewick and Richland police were assisted by the Tri-Cities Regional SWAT team, Kennewick’s Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT), and KPD’s drone unit.
Barnett and Miller were both booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery and second degree theft.
Barnett’s bail is set to $250,000, Miller’s is set at $150,000.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Kennewick Police Department’s non-emergency line at (509) 628-0333 or submit anonymous tips at www.kpdtips.com referencing case #25-054002.