On the evening of October 29, 2020, a tragic altercation on a rural road outside Hermiston, Oregon, resulted in the death of 18-year-old Hispanic male Hugo Madrigal-León. The violent encounter also claimed the life of his companion, 18-year-old Raymond Ryan Rios, and left another man injured.
The events unfolded on Sagebrush Road near Bensel Road, where an altercation occurred between four men.
At approximately 8:18 p.m., the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office received a call from a man, Alejandro Madrigal, who stated that he and his father, Jaime Madrigal, had been in a fight with Madrigal-León and Rios. During the call, Alejandro Madrigal admitted to shooting both Madrigal-León and Rios, claiming he did so in self-defense after his father had been shot.
Upon their arrival, law enforcement officers discovered the bodies of Hugo Madrigal-León and Raymond Ryan Rios at the scene. They were both pronounced deceased. Jaime Madrigal was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. Alejandro Madrigal sustained some injuries from the physical altercation and was reported to be cooperating with the authorities.
The Umatilla County Sheriff's Office, along with the Umatilla Morrow Major Crime Team and the Oregon State Police Forensics Lab, launched an investigation into the double homicide. While Alejandro Madrigal asserted that the shootings were an act of self-defense, the authorities continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly incident. At the time of the initial reports, no arrests had been made, and the investigation was ongoing. The authorities indicated that they did not believe there was any further danger to the community. The loss of the two young men was felt deeply in the Hermiston community, particularly at Hermiston High School, where Madrigal-León was a senior and Rios was a recent graduate.
