From the Yakima Herald-Republic Online News.


Posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Autopsy: Man died of gunshot

Yakima Herald-Republic

HARRAH -- An autopsy left unclear the circumstances leading to the death of a 20-year-old Wapato man whose body was found in a hop field Wednesday morning.

The man, identified as Salvador Lopez Lopez, died from a single gunshot through the heart, Yakima County Coroner Jack Hawkins said.

But sheriff's detectives said they were still talking to family members and others to determine whether Lopez's death is intentional or accidental.

A rifle and Lopez's car were found near the body, which was discovered about 6:30 a.m. by a farm worker on an access road off Harrah Road and West Wapato Road, about three miles north of Harrah.

Lopez had been reported missing on Sunday, likely the same day he died, according to the autopsy.