In the summer of 2023, a heart-wrenching incident unfolded in a home near Lions Park in Yakima, Washington, forever altering the lives of two families. On the afternoon of Friday, July 21st, police were called to a residence where they discovered a devastating scene. Inside, they found 15-year-old Liliana Mendez and 14-year-old Benjamin Enciso, both of whom had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
A third individual, a friend of the two teenagers, was also present in the home but was unharmed and not involved in the tragic events that had transpired.
Investigators pieced together a sorrowful narrative of what occurred. It is believed that the two teens were handling a firearm when it accidentally discharged, striking Benjamin and fatally wounding him. In the immediate aftermath of this shocking and tragic accident, a distraught Liliana Mendez then used the same gun to take her own life. The Yakima County Coroner later confirmed the identities of the two young people, describing the situation as profoundly sad and tragic for everyone involved. Authorities did not release information regarding the ownership of the firearm.
In the wake of this tragedy, Yakima's Police Chief addressed the community to reassure residents that there was no ongoing threat to public safety. The incident was contained within the home and did not involve any outside suspects. No arrests were made in connection with the deaths, as the investigation concluded that the tragic sequence of events was an accidental shooting followed by a suicide. The community was left to mourn the sudden and profound loss of two young lives, a sentiment echoed by the families who were described as being completely devastated by the loss of their children.
