UPDATE: Kennewick murder suspect held on $500,000 bail

Bail was set at $500,000 on Monday for the suspect in the Christmas Eve shooting death of a young mother.

Francisco Javier Munoz-Quintero, 20, is being held at the Benton County jail on a 72-hour investigative hold for second-degree murder.

He turned himself in at the jail about 6 p.m. Friday after Kennewick police said he was a person of interest in the death of Luisa Alejandra Garcia, 21.

He told investigators he was arguing with Garcia in her car on North Tweedt Street on Christmas Eve when he pulled out a gun and pointed it at her, said court documents filed Monday. The two struggled and the gun went off, Munoz told police.

Police have not said if they know what they were arguing about.

The prosecution has until Wednesday to file charges. Munoz, who is listed as a transient in court documents, is expected to be back in court Thursday morning.

He also is being held on allegations that he failed to pay fines and court costs from one or more felony convictions when he was a juvenile.

On Sunday night, about 75 people gathered on North Tweedt Street to remember Garcia.

The group included family and friends, but many others had never met her. The vigil was organized by the manager of a nearby apartment complex with help from tenants who knew Garcia only as the woman found bleeding in the street on their block.

Witnesses reported that she had been pushed out of a car about 11:20 p.m. Christmas Eve, according to police reports.

She had a gunshot wound and was taken to Trios Southridge Hospital in Kennewick, where she died, according to Kennewick police.

An autopsy is planned Tuesday if a pathologist is able to travel to the Tri-Cities, said Benton County Coroner John Hansens.

On Sunday night, people holding candles gathered around a makeshift memorial on the sidewalk where dozens of vela candles glowed among bouquets of flowers.

They listened quietly to a recording of Sarah McLachlan singing “in the arms of the angel, fly away” from the song, Angel. Prayers, poetry and Bible verses were recited in English and Spanish during the hourlong vigil in freezing temperatures.

“She is in heaven with God,” said Pastor Robert Martinez, who lives on the street. “Focus on the good things she did in her life.”

Donations to help with funeral services for Garcia are being collected at gofundme.com/49gcsrn3. As of Monday evening, $2,798 had been raised.

The site said that Garcia had a daughter, who is 20 months old. “She wakes up, she asks for her … she goes to sleep and asks for her,” the page said.

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 4:12 PM with the headline "UPDATE: Kennewick murder suspect held on $500,000 bail."