Was a bullet barrage from an assault rifle at a crowded Pasco nightclub self defense?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jury will decide whether two men at La Cantina fired in anger or self-defense.
- Prosecutor says the two returned armed, and Martinez‑Lopez fired 26 rounds into the bar.
- Defense says a third man intervened, a struggle ensued, and shots may have been mutual.
Everyone agrees that the two men at a Pasco bar were having a bad night when the shooting started last year.
But a jury must decide if Eduardo Miranda-Salazar and Jesus Martinez-Lopez fired in anger or in self-defense.
Attorneys presented opening arguments Monday in the Franklin County Superior Court trial for the two men accused of seriously wounding a man, grazing a security guard and endangering the lives of more than 20 others inside the La Cantina bar in May 2024.
Miranda-Salazar, 34, is facing two counts of first-degree assault and illegal gun possession, and Martinez Lopez, 27, is charged with attempted second-degree murder and three counts of first-degree assault.
Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Julie Long described the men as drunk and belligerent the night of the shooting. She said they escalated tensions when Miranda-Salazar grabbed a revolver and Martinez Lopez carried an AK-style rifle to the front door.
“Defendant Jesus Martinez Lopez promised that the two of them would return and f--k everything up in that bar, and they made good on that promise when they returned and fired round after round into this crowded bar,” she said.
But defense Attorney Dennis Hanson said the men shot in self-defense. He said they were having a bad time and a third man, Cesar Ponce-Gutierrez, stepped into the middle of an already fraught situation with his own gun.
“We are here because we have a fundamental disagreement as to what happened in that bar and what Mr. Miranda-Salazar’s actions were and what Mr. Martinez Lopez’s actions were, what Mr. Ponce-Gutierrez’s actions were, what led up to everything and what went down.”
La Cantina bar shooting
Long told jurors that the problems at the La Cantina bar started with Miranda-Salazar and Martinez Lopez being drunk and upset. They got into disputes with other patrons and with the bar staff.
At one point in the night, Miranda-Salazar left the bar, moved his car closer to the door and grabbed a handgun.
Their problems with the bar employees and other patrons continued, and they were told to leave. But they returned soon after and argued with waitstaff about a debit card.
Again, they were asked to leave but didn’t go far. Miranda-Salazar stayed out front, while Martinez Lopez got a rifle from the car and carried it next to his leg while he approached the door, said Long.
About the same time, Ponce-Gutierrez, who had been spending time with friends, went outside and spotted the man with the rifle.
Long said security video shows Ponce-Gutierrez stop and then circle back around to confirm that he really did see a man with a rifle.
Concerned about his friends inside, the then 24-year-old retrieved his own gun from his car, confronting Martinez-Lopez and trying to take away the rifle.
“When he does that, Miranda-Salazar then pulls his firearm ... and holds it directly to the back of Cesar’s head,” Long said. “The two engage in a struggle to get the firearm off of the back of his head, and shots are fired between Cesar and Miranda-Salazar almost simultaneously.”
Long said Ponce-Gutierrez was shot several times and staggered into the bar before collapsing. Miranda-Salazar was hit as well.
“Jesus Martinez Lopez opens fire with his rifle,” said Long as she took bullets out of her pockets and lined them up in front of the jurors. “And ladies and gentlemen, he fires, not five, not 10, not even 20, he fires 26 rounds from that rifle into that crowded bar.”
Bullets hit the bar, the ceiling and several other places before the shooters fled. Miranda-Salazar ended up at a hospital while Martinez-Lopez went to Pasco police after learning they were looking for him.
“But despite having fired all 26 rounds, he has no idea why law enforcement would be looking for him,” Long said.
Self-defense
Hanson argued his clients were having a bad night, but not because they were drunk. He said there were issues going on, and they were uncomfortable.
None of the video will show the problems inside the bar, Hanson said. The only video is of the confrontation outside.
He didn’t dispute that Martinez-Lopez had a rifle, but he did argue that when Martinez-Lopez carried it toward the door it was pointed at the ground.
When Ponce-Gutierrez got his gun, he immediately pointed it at the man holding the rifle, Hanson argued.
“He then starts walking toward Mr. Martinez Lopez. What does Mr. Martinez Lopez do? Does he open fire? With the AR in his right hand, with his left hand he pushes the other man backwards, trying to separate them.”
Miranda-Salazar stepped in to defend his friend and pulled out his own gun. Hanson claimed during the struggle Ponce-Gutierrez fired first.
After the confrontation, Martinez Lopez responded by firing into the car because he was trying to defend himself from Ponce-Gutierrez, Hanson said.
The trial continues Tuesday with witness testimony.