Man admits to early-Sunday shooting in Terrace Heights

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A 29-year-old man admitted Monday that he fatally shot a 19-year-old Yakima man at a Terrace Heights party early Sunday, Yakima County sheriff’s detectives said.

The man contends that he shot Eriberto Lopez in self-defense, and he was released as the investigation continues, said Chief of Detectives Stew Graham.

Without disclosing details, Graham said some physical evidence support’s the shooter’s account. The dead man was shot inside a home in the 200 block of Butterfield Road, but the shooter does not live there, Graham said.

The man was attending the party when a confrontation developed with others who wanted to crash the party without paying a $2 cup charge.

Contrary to initial reports from the sheriff’s office, the shooter was not one of the party crashers, Graham confirmed. The dead man’s role remained under investigation; Graham said detectives were considering the possibility he was one of the party crashers.

Graham said more gunfire took place outside the home after Lopez was wounded. That part of the incident remains under investigation.

Lopez’s death was the 12th homicide of the year in Yakima County. An autopsy is planned for Tuesday.

Detectives are still hoping to talk to more people with information about the case. The sheriff’s office can be reached at 509-574-2500.

-- Mark Morey