A Washington state man has been arrested for allegedly murdering a woman in a detached garage that served as an apartment. Jonathon Villegas, 30, is accused of second-degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Lupita Ponce-Penaloza, a mother of one, according to the Pasco Police Department.
The Shooting Incident
The shooting took place in the early morning hours of July 23 in Pasco, Washington. Police received a 911 call about the incident and arrived to find Ponce-Penaloza unconscious and not breathing. She had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Villegas, who was quickly identified as the suspect, was arrested on Friday, about 65 miles south near Pendleton, Oregon. He remains in the Umatilla County Jail without bond while awaiting extradition back to Washington.
Alleged Events Leading to the Murder
According to an arrest affidavit, Ponce-Penaloza had expressed fear of Villegas, whom she referred to as “Trucha.” In text messages to a friend, she questioned whether Villegas had tried to set her up and warned that her friend may need to call 911 if “s— goes down.”
Two roommates who witnessed the shooting gave slightly different accounts of the events. One roommate said that the victim and Villegas arrived at the apartment together. The suspect allegedly pulled a .45 caliber handgun from under a coffee table and shot Ponce-Penaloza, before opening the door to let in a second man, who also shot the victim.
The second roommate claimed there was only one shooter. Investigators found two different caliber casings at the scene, suggesting there were two shooters.
Investigation and Motive
Authorities have not publicly revealed a motive for the shooting, and a second suspect has not been arrested. Pasco Police have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, despite Villegas’ arrest.
Family’s Grief and GoFundMe
Ponce-Penaloza’s sister, Isabella, has set up a GoFundMe account to cover funeral expenses and support her son. Isabella described her sister as a loving mother, sister, and friend, despite the family’s struggles.
“We not only lost a sister, but she was a mother and friend,” Isabella wrote. “Lupita was the best sister; although we all had our issues with each other, she always made her way to make us laugh and reunite with each other.”
