Mattawa murders were reportedly revenge for rape

EPHRATA — The man accused of killing three people near Mattawa told police he shot the men for allegedly raping a woman.

J. Guadalupe Martinez-Lopez, 24, is charged with three counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder in Grant County Superior Court.

Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee requested $1 million in bail and asked for a court order banning Martinez-Lopez from contacting witnesses and the surviving victim.

Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline set bail at $2.5 million. He stated the charges have the potential to generate a death sentence and give Martinez-Lopez “the greatest possible” incentive to flee.

Investigators reported Martinez-Lopez gave a taped statement about killing three men and robbing a convenience store in Sunnyside.

Martinez-Lopez told police he went to a house on Road 24.7 Southwest near Mattawa because he was mad at several people at the home “because they raped a girl in the past,” Grant County Sheriff’s Office Detective Ryan Rectenwald wrote in his report.

Witnesses stated Martinez-Lopez called ahead to meet with the first victim, claiming he was bored. The two men left the house in the victim’s Dodge Intrepid, saying they were going to the store. Martinez-Lopez reportedly informed police he told the victim “he was going to pay,” drew a .45 caliber pistol and began shooting at the victim in the car. The victim exited the vehicle, running a short distance before falling. Martinez-Lopez allegedly caught up to him.

“Martinez-Lopez said while (the victim) was lying on the ground he stood over him and fired one last round,” Rectenwald wrote.

Martinez-Lopez told police he drove the Dodge back to the house, walked up to the open front door and told three men and a woman that “what they did was wrong,” according to the report.

“He said it appeared as if they were going to stand up so he started shooting before they could do anything to him,” Rectenwald reported. “Martinez-Lopez said he thinks he fired five rounds at the occupants in the living room.”

A surviving witness, a 24 -year-old man from Mattawa, told investigators Martinez-Lopez was laughing when he opened fire into the house. Three men were struck by bullets.

“(The witness) said when the shots rang off he dove to the ground and immediately felt a burning sensation, believing he had been shot,” Rectenwald reported. “(The witness) said he checked himself out and noticed his shirt and belt buckle had been struck by the bullet.”

Another man was struck by a bullet and left a trail of blood down a hallway to a bedroom, where he died from the injury.

Officers found a small caliber pistol and spent casings in the hall, but did not elaborate on if it was used during the confrontation.

A third man, Pedro Luis Rivera, 21, Mattawa, was found in the living room after being struck by a bullet. He reportedly died while being transported by ambulance.

Martinez-Lopez allegedly drove the Dodge away from the house, getting it stuck in a field on Road 24.7 Southwest. Authorities later recovered the vehicle for evidence, finding two bullet holes in a side window, the back window shattered and blood stains in the car.

He reportedly left the Dodge and stole a Volkswagen Jetta, driving to Sunnyside to meet with his girlfriend and other friends at a Mexican restaurant, according to court records.

Martinez-Lopez’s girlfriend told investigators he met them at the restaurant, claimed to have lost his wallet, left and came back 15 minutes later telling the group they could “order whatever they wanted.”

Martinez-Lopez reportedly told police he robbed a convenience store down the street from the restaurant.

“He said he used the same .45 caliber pistol he used to shoot (a victim) and pointed the gun at the clerk and demanded money,” Rectenwald wrote. “Martinez-Lopez admitted to several other armed robberies in Sunnyside, Basin City and Grant County.”

Martinez-Lopez allegedly admitted to being photographed by surveillance video robbing a cellphone store in Desert Aire, while holding a pistol, according to court documents.

Arriving at the restaurant shortly after 9 p.m., Martinez-Lopez allegedly parked the stolen Volkswagen Jetta in the stall next to a Sunnyside police detective. Police received a tip indicating Martinez-Lopez was meeting his girlfriend and three male friends. Police arrested Martinez-Lopez and reportedly recovered two empty .45 caliber magazines.

Sunnyside police used two search warrants to recover a Colt .45 caliber pistol from the trunk of a Honda, parked at the restaurant, belonging to one of Martinez-Lopez’s friends, according to court records. One round was still in the chamber of the gun.

Martinez-Lopez was transported to the Grant County Jail and is scheduled to enter a plea on Tuesday.