In the late hours of May 18, 2024, a tragic sequence of events unfolded in the parking lot of the El Muchacho Alegre restaurant in Renton, Washington, culminating in the death of 19-year-old Hispanic male, Elmer Salazar Rojas. The night took a violent turn after Salazar Rojas's half-brother, a musician who had been performing at the restaurant, was brutally attacked by a group of men.
The altercation began after the half-brother declined a request to play more songs for a group of
patrons. As he went to his car to retrieve a guitar, he was violently assaulted by several men, suffering multiple facial fractures. One of the assailants also stole his driver's license and threatened his life if he were to contact the police. Witnessing this vicious attack, Elmer Salazar Rojas got into his vehicle and drove towards the group of men. After turning his car around and driving back towards them, one of the individuals in the group opened fire.
Responding Renton Police officers found Salazar Rojas in his vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite lifesaving efforts by the officers and the arrival of medical aid, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The King County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that his death was a homicide caused by the gunshot wounds. The suspects, described as Hispanic men in their early to mid-30s, fled the scene in a silver 2010 Toyota Sequoia, which reportedly sustained significant damage to its front end and driver's side.
In the wake of the incident, King County prosecutors announced they would not be filing charges against the suspected shooter, citing self-defense. However, an investigation into the assault on Salazar Rojas's half-brother continued. Renton police released photos of individuals involved and received numerous tips from the public. This led to the identification of one suspect in the assault, 35-year-old Juan Ayon-Gonzalez. A warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of second-degree assault.
