Car was intentionally rammed before murder-suicide shooting, say officials
A Prosser couple were driving separate cars Saturday when one of them deliberately rammed into the other at a rural intersection, ending soon after in a murder-suicide that shocked the community.
Investigators confirmed Tuesday the crash was intentional but did not say during a news conference Tuesday who caused the collision and who started shooting in what they are calling an act of domestic violence.
Benton County sheriff’s officials confirmed Annie Ruvalcaba-Barrera, 39, suffered a gunshot wound, calling her death a homicide. And they said her husband, Jose Luis Barrera Carrazco, 40, died by suicide.
However, the sequence of the shots remains unclear.
Their youngest of five children, who is 6, was in the car with Ruvalcaba-Barrera, but was not physically injured.
Interim Sheriff Mike Clark, Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger and Benton County Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Horacio Gonzalez said Tuesday they were not ready to share all details of the ongoing investigation of what happened and the couple’s shared history.
Officials confirmed there was no order for protection in place at the time.
Their cars collided about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, near the intersection of Rothrock and Evans roads north of Prosser in rural Benton County, in the area where officials say they lived.
A 911 caller reported hearing an argument or yelling and then gunfire at the crash scene.
One of them was dead when officials arrived and the other died a short time later, according to initial reports.
The Benton County coroner has the autopsies scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Ruvalcaba-Barrera was remembered after her death by her sister-in-law, Seirra Goble, as a beloved mother of five who was devoted to raising her children and spending time with her granddaughter.
The sheriff’s office said the couple’s children, ages 6 to 22, are with family members and have been connecting with counselors and other resources.
Ruvalcaba-Barrera worked at Prosser Memorial Hospital, rising from a job in housekeeping to become a cardio pulmonary technician.
A GoFundMe to support the family and children had raised about $16,000 by Tuesday.
If you or somebody you know is living with an abusive partner or you have questions about your own relationship, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-799-7233. The StrongHearts Native Helpline can also be reached at 844-762-8483
Local resources are available through Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties. Go to dvsbf.org.
