Sunnyside man charged in Warden murder

EPHRATA — Israel Morfin, 27, Sunnyside, Wash., was arraigned in Grant County Superior Court Monday after allegedly shooting a Warden man on Saturday.

Initial reports from law enforcement on Sunday gave an incorrect spelling for the suspect’s name and the wrong name for the victim.

Morfin is charged with murder in the second degree and unlawful possession of a firearm after allegedly shooting Manuel A. Arousa, 23, during an argument about money.

His bail was set at $200,000.

Arousa and friend, John A. Wall Jr., 27, Warden, were parked in front of Wall’s residence when Morfin and another man pulled up beside them in a black Nissan Maxima.

Morfin and his passenger came to the side of the vehicle and allegedly started taking the stereo out of Arousa’s car, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Morfin and Arousa reportedly argued about money Arousa owed. The victim allegedly gave Morfin money but he and his passenger continued to take the stereo from Arousa’s car, according to a witness.

While the two men were taking speakers from the trunk, Arousa said something to Morfin, reportedly upsetting him and causing him to draw a nickle plated semi-automatic handgun and begin assaulting Arousa. The gun went off and the bullet struck Arousa in the head, killing him instantly, according to the sheriff’s office.

An Adams County sheriff’s deputy spotted Morfin’s car at the intersection of Bench Road and state Route 24. When the deputy tried to pull the vehicle over, Morfin allegedly didn’t stop, continuing south on SR 24, according to the sheriff’s office.

Officers from the Adams County Sheriff Office, Washington State Patrol and the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office assisted. The state patrol used an airplane to track the car and later the suspect.

During the chase, Morfin allegedly tossed the handgun out of the car, but it was retrieved by Mattawa police Chief Chris Jensen.

Morfin’s car stopped after hitting a spike strip on SR 241, heading toward Sunnyside, Wash.

Morfin reportedly fled into a field where he was tracked using a Yakima County K-9 and the state patrol aircraft. He was located in a tree by the K-9 dog.

Warden police Chief Rick Martin requested assistance from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation and handling all media.