Teen faces manslaughter charges after another dies after fight

Formal charges not yet filed

OTHELLO — An Othello teen has been charged by the Adams County Sheriff's Office with the death of an acquaintance after a fight earlier this week.

Abimael Garza, 17, has been accused of first-degree manslaughter for allegedly causing the death of 17-year-old Charlie Peralta.

Peralta died Monday of a skull fracture suffered after he struck the pavement in a fight that the ACSO said took place between Peralta and Garza.

According to an ACSO press release, Garza is accused of hitting Peralta in the head, causing Peralta to fall to the ground and strike his head on the pavement.

Formal charges have not yet been filed in Adams County, and County Prosecutor Randy Flyckt said officials are awaiting results of a law enforcement investigation. The case has also been referred to the Adams County Juvenile Department, the ACSO said.

The incident is alleged to have taken place on the 22000 block of Rainier Road late Sunday night. Adams County Undersheriff Kevin Fuhr said the two were at a teen party.

Fuhr said his office believed the fight was limited to Garza hitting Peralta, and that Peralta did not hit Garza. No weapons were part of Sunday's incident, Fuhr said.

Washington's criminal code defines first-degree manslaughter as recklessly causing the death of another person.

Fuhr said that he did not believe that Garza had been drinking during the alleged incident, but said there were indications that Peralta had.

Witnesses took Peralta to Othello Community Hospital by private vehicle, and he was later transported to Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane.

Garza is currently not in custody, and has no prior felony history according to the ACSO.

Peralta and Garza knew each other, Fuhr said, adding that the incident was part of an ongoing situation between the two.

"Because of an ongoing situation they both happened to be at the same place the night of the incident," Fuhr said, "and I guess that is what sparked it."