On the night of January 11, 2025, in the small community of Custer, Washington, a gathering of friends would end in tragedy. Angel Rodriguez, a 52-year-old Hispanic male, was at a residence on Valley View Road when an argument erupted. What began as a dispute between Rodriguez and his friend, 43-year-old Valentin Rivera, escalated into a fatal confrontation that would cut Rodriguez's life short.
According to witnesses, both men had been drinking for several hours.
The disagreement reportedly began when Rodriguez, who was intoxicated, expressed his intention to drive home. Rivera attempted to prevent him from getting behind the wheel, leading to a heated verbal exchange that soon turned physical. In the midst of the struggle, the situation took a deadly turn.
Deputies from the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the home around 10:30 p.m. following a report of a physical domestic incident. While on their way, a second report came in: shots had been fired. Upon their arrival, law enforcement officers discovered Angel Rodriguez inside the house, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. He was found lying in an open closet.
Valentin Rivera was found at the scene, and a handgun was recovered from under his head. The investigation also revealed that two other individuals at the home had allegedly been assaulted by Rivera during the altercation. One of these victims required hospital treatment for their injuries. Following the incident, Rivera was taken to a local hospital to be medically cleared before being booked into the Whatcom County Jail. He has since been charged with second-degree murder for the death of Angel Rodriguez, as well as second-degree and fourth-degree assault with domestic violence enhancements. Rivera has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
