In the early hours of March 5, 2022, a party on Yellow Jacket Road in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, turned tragic, ending the life of 18-year-old Jason Samuel Warner. Shortly after midnight, multiple 911 calls reported shots fired at the residence. An altercation at the party had escalated, resulting in Warner being shot multiple times by another male.
Friends at the scene transported Warner to St. Mary's Hospital in Walla Walla, Washington.
Despite their efforts, Jason Warner was pronounced deceased at the hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds. He was just eight days shy of his 19th birthday. Those who knew him described him as funny, respectful, kind, and ambitious.
Law enforcement, including the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, and Milton-Freewater Police, responded to the scene of the shooting. Early in the investigation, they identified 19-year-old Manuel Adam Peralez Jr. of Walla Walla as the suspect. The day after the shooting, on March 6, 2022, Peralez turned himself into the Milton-Freewater Police Department. He was subsequently arrested for second-degree murder and lodged at the Umatilla County Jail.
In June 2023, the Umatilla County District Attorney's Office announced a settlement with Peralez. He agreed to plead guilty to the charge of first-degree manslaughter. This charge carries a 25-year sentence. The district attorney stated that the resolution was intended to provide closure and finality for Warner's family after the horrific event.
