A 25-year-old man is accused of killing his brother during an argument north of Prosser Monday evening.
Jose Cruz Escobar’s attorney said it was clear that he acted in self-defense.
Cruz Escobar appeared in Benton County Superior Court by video Tuesday. He is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder.
He is accused of shooting and killing his brother, Alejandro Salazar, 27 at a home on the 24000 block of North Rothrock Road.
His bail was set at $200,000.
Cruz Escobar appeared to have family in the gallery who he was waving at multiple times during the hearing.
A sparse police report was handed over to Judge Andrew Howell, leading defense attorney Karla Kane to suggest that the shooting was more likely a case of Cruz Escobar defending himself.
Deputy Prosecutor Chelsea Parker argued that there was a delay between when the argument happened and when Cruz Escobar returned with a gun.
Judge Andrew Howell questioned the limited information submitted to the court, and whether there was enough to hold him on second-degree murder or if manslaughter would be a more appropriate charge.
“What surprises this court is that with such a serious charge, I’ve been provided a paragraph of information,” Howell said. “Very little detail is provided in that regard .... The circumstances are somewhat known to this court, but it is clear that there is much more information that could have been provided to this court.”
While there was enough evidence to hold him on the charge, Howell called the lack of information “extremely disappointing” especially with the serious charge that Cruz Escobar was facing.
Details about the shooting have been minimal. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said in a Monday evening press release that they were called to Rothrock Road about 6 p.m. after someone said his brother had been shot in a drive-by shooting.
The caller wasn’t able to provide any information about the suspect car. When deputies arrived they discovered Salazar dying. Cruz-Escobar was reportedly trying to help his brother.
As they continued investigating, deputies learned it wasn’t a drive-by shooting, and instead started as a fight between the two men.
“During the confrontation, Escobar allegedly fired multiple rounds at Salazar, who sustained gunshot wounds to his arm and abdomen,” the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said in its release.
Deputies found multiple shell casings along the driveway between where the victim was at and the home.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Abel Suarez at Abel.Suarez@co.benton.wa.us or Detective Tara Marks Tara.Marks@co.benton.wa.us.
The shooting was the second in three days. Salvador Corona III, 22, is accused of killing Anthony Hernandez, 15, in a Pasco alley on Saturday. It appears it may have been motivated by gang graffiti that Hernandez and a 17-year-old friend were painting.
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