Damien A. Navarro, a 31-year-old resident of Everett, Washington, tragically lost his life in the early hours of March 6, 2022. The incident occurred outside 128th Billiards, a pool hall located on 128th Street SW, following a large altercation that escalated into gunfire. According to reports, a fight broke out inside the establishment and continued into the parking lot, involving up to 20 individuals. During the chaos, Navarro ran into the street, where he was pursued by three people.
One of them fired six shots, three of which struck Navarro, with the fatal shot hitting his head.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Navarro died from gunshot wounds. The investigation quickly identified Octaviano Vera-Hernandez Jr., a 22-year-old man with addresses in Everett and Camano Island, as the primary suspect. Vera-Hernandez was seen on video footage from the scene, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, and was later pulled over by an off-duty sheriff's deputy. Although no weapons were found on his person at the time, a subsequent search of his impounded vehicle revealed two 'ghost guns' and ammunition that matched the cartridges found at the crime scene.
Vera-Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Navarro's death. Despite his initial claims of not being involved in the fight or the shooting, evidence and witness testimonies pointed to his direct involvement. A witness who knew Vera-Hernandez reported seeing him shoot Navarro. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, as there was no indication that Navarro had committed any crimes or was armed at the time of the incident.
The case has drawn significant attention, with ongoing investigations and legal proceedings. Vera-Hernandez was arrested and booked into the Snohomish County Jail, with his bail set at $1 million. Detectives continue to seek additional information and evidence from the public to fully understand the events leading up to Navarro's tragic death.
