David Suarez Hernandez was a vibrant and cherished 21-year-old known as the "life of the party." A devoted father to his young son, the Hispanic man had a great love for fashion and aspirations of continuing his education. Friends and family remembered him as a supportive and encouraging presence in their lives.
On the evening of February 9, 2025, David was at a Super Bowl party in his girlfriend's apartment in Yakima, Washington.
Sometime before 10:45 p.m., a single gunshot rang out inside the residence in the 1400 block of Folsom Avenue. The bullet struck David, who was holding his one-year-old son, injuring the child before fatally wounding David in the neck.
Police were called to the apartment complex for a report of a woman crying. When they arrived, they found 27-year-old Ann Melendrez, David's girlfriend and the mother of the injured child, sitting on the ground outside with the baby in her arms. Officers noted she seemed intoxicated and was uncooperative. The boy was rushed to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital for treatment and was expected to recover. Inside the apartment, officers discovered David deceased on the floor. On a kitchen table, they found a handgun, alcoholic beverages, and food from the party.
The subsequent investigation pieced together the events of the evening. Witnesses told police that everyone at the party had been drinking. At one point, David had reportedly taken out a handgun, removed the magazine, ejected a live round, and placed the weapon on the table. One witness later told a social worker they had seen Melendrez playing with the firearm and pointing it at people. Investigators determined through witness statements and surveillance footage that Melendrez was alone in the apartment with David and their son when the shot was fired.
Authorities concluded that Melendrez had loaded the firearm and was recklessly handling it while intoxicated when it discharged. She was arrested and charged with manslaughter, assault, and reckless endangerment. According to court documents, Melendrez told officers she did not remember what had happened. As of her arrest in February 2025, her case was proceeding through the court system.
