Connell man arrested in connection with Othello murders

OTHELLO— A 31-year-old Connell man has been arrested in connection to the double homicide in Othello Tuesday night.

Francisco A. Rizo was arrested about 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon and was booked into Adams County Jail. He will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder, according to Sheriff Doug Barger. Border Patrol has also placed a hold on Rizo, according to booking information.

Barger said the incident stemmed from a verbal and physical confrontation between the two victims, Juan Luis Rizo-Torres, 39, and Ruben Gonzalez-Navarrete, 29, and another orchard worker. Francisco Rizo allegedly found out about the altercation and went to the orchard in the 1700 block of West Bench Road, east of Othello. Rizo reportedly confronted the two victims and allegedly shot both with a small caliber handgun, Barger said. Both victims had multiple gunshot wounds, he said.

The sheriff’s office has not yet recovered the handgun used, Barger said.

Rizo fled the scene of the shooting and was located at a residence in the 200 block of West Hawthorn Street in Connell, along with his vehicle, a Chevrolet Suburban.

The victim’s bodies were found in a vehicle early Wednesday morning by a family member, according to earlier reports.

The Connell Police Department also assisted in the arrest.

Barger said an autopsy is scheduled for the two victims today in Moses Lake.