Detectives identify the victim and suspect in deadly altercation
information released
Original Information: 5/18/24 — The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office reports that on May 17th, 2024 at 0458 hours, Rivercom received a 911 call reporting gun shots in the area of Stayman Flats Road and Summer Camp Road in Chelan, WA. Deputies arrived on scene and found two male subjects with gunshot wounds. One 49-year-old Hispanic male was pronounced deceased on scene. A 40-year-old Hispanic male was transported to Central Washington Hospital and then life flighted to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition. At this time, investigators believe this to be an isolated incident and there is no known threat to the public. No other information will be released at this time as the investigation is ongoing.
UPDATE 5/30/2024
Sheriff Mike Morrison reports upon further investigation, Chelan County Detectives have identified the victim and suspect involved in the shooting that occurred 5/17/24 on Stayman Flats Road. Detectives discovered that 49-year-old Luis Rojas-Resendiz had confronted 40-year-old Filiberto Valasco Lopez over a dispute involving a female.
According to witness statements and evidence recovered on scene, Valasco-Lopez and the female were traveling in the same vehicle to work when Rojas-Resendiz stopped them at Stayman Flats Road near Summer Camp Road. At that point Rojas-Resendiz targeted Valasco-Lopez with gunfire. Valasco-Lopez suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was seriously wounded.
Valasco-Lopez and the female fled in the car northbound on Stayman Flats Road to get away. Rojas-Resendiz followed them and then forced the victim’s vehicle off the road near milepost 3 on Stayman Flats Road. Rojas-Resendiz stepped from his vehicle and shot Valasco-Lopez again. Rojas-Resendiz walked a short distance away and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Smith arrived on scene and immediately provided lifesaving trauma aid to Valasco-Lopez. This included the application of four chest seals. Valasco-Lopez was transported via ambulance to Central Washington Hospital and then flown to Harbor View in critical condition. As of 05/30/2024, his condition was upgraded to stable.
The female was not injured during the incident.
