On a March night in 2016, a party on the Umatilla Indian Reservation turned tragic, ending the life of 27-year-old Hispanic male, Anthony "Tony" Jimenez of Pendleton, Oregon. The gathering took place at the home of Beau Welch on the evening of March 17th, and the events that unfolded in the early morning hours of March 19th would leave one man dead and another wounded.
An altercation erupted when Jimenez and Welch attempted to remove individuals described as members of a rival gang from the party.
During the confrontation, gunfire broke out. Jimenez was struck in the head by a bullet and later succumbed to his injuries. Welch was also shot, sustaining a wound to his lower leg but ultimately surviving. The immediate aftermath of the shooting led to a complex investigation involving tribal police and the FBI, due to the crime occurring on tribal land and involving a victim who was a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Initially, investigators arrested 23-year-old Victor Contreras of California in connection with the shooting of Beau Welch. Federal prosecutors charged him with several felonies, including the attempted murder of Welch. However, in the days following the incident, the Umatilla County District Attorney stated there was not enough evidence to directly link Contreras to Jimenez's death, leaving the murder uncharged. Contreras himself claimed there was a second shooter involved in the incident.
The investigation continued, and in April 2016, federal officials announced significant developments in the case. Julian Daryl Simpson was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Antonio "Tony" Jimenez. In addition to the charges he already faced, Victor Joseph Contreras was indicted on five counts related to the fatal shooting. This brought a measure of progress for a family seeking justice for the loss of a son, father, and brother who was known for his charisma and pride in his work as a certified welder.
