Mattawa murder suspect still at large

Suspect allegedly shot 37-year-old man Friday

MATTAWA — A suspect in a fatal shooting Friday night has disappeared and authorities have not been unable to track the man down.

The shooting incident being investigated happened shortly before 10:37 p.m. when the Mattawa Police Department received a call about shots being fired at 500 N. Williams Ave, said Steve Jensen, acting Mattawa police chief.

Authorities believe the shooting occurred after the suspect approached the home of his estranged girlfriend despite a restraining order barring him from the ,residence. The stepfather of the ex-girlfriend was shot after police believe he tried to intervene.

Jensen said alcohol and drugs don't appear to have played a part in the incident.

"Apparently it was an ongoing argument that escalated into this," Jensen said.

He said the at-large suspect is Jose Juventino Nunez Valdovinos, who is believed to be around 21-years of age and a resident of Mattawa. Jensen said Valdovinos has been arrested several times in the past and has some criminal history in the area. Valdovinos has two previous warrants for his arrest on charges of violating a restraining order and resisting arrest, he said.

The victim was 37-year-old Mattawa resident Gustavo Fierro, whose body was found just inside the front door of the Williams Avenue home where he had apparently been confronted by Valdovinos, Jensen said. Fierro was sharing the home with four family members, including the suspect's former girlfriend. The family was inside the residence at the time of the incident, but in other parts of the home during the actual shooting, Jensen said.

Fierro died of multiple gunshot wounds from what police say was a 12-gauge shotgun. His body was taken to Moses Lake for an autopsy Monday by the Grant County Coroner, Jensen said.

The autopsy results declared the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head, said Lynette Henson, chief deputy coroner.

Valdovinos is believed to have family connections in both Mexico and Washington state, but authorities do not know where the suspect may be hiding. Authorities have not been able to pin down exactly where Valdovinos was recently living or whether he is currently employed. He was last known to be working on a forest restoration project as a laborer in areas burned by wildfire, Jensen said.

Police describe the suspect as 5-foot-5, with a medium build and black hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo of the number "13" on his left shoulder.

The Grant County Sheriff's Office is assisting with the homicide investigation and all leads are being followed up related to Valdovinos' whereabouts, Jensen said.