In the early morning hours of May 5, 2019, the life of 20-year-old Hispanic female Andrea Nunez was tragically cut short in Kennewick, Washington. Nunez, who was nearly five months pregnant with a baby boy, was walking with her boyfriend, Joseph Ayala, near the intersection of East Seventh Avenue and South Gum Street when the fatal encounter occurred. The couple was confronted by a group of individuals in what authorities would later describe as a gang-related incident.
A verbal altercation ensued, with one of the suspects yelling a gang affiliation, "Westside." When Nunez responded with a rival gang call, "Southside," a shot was fired, striking her in the back. The bullet pierced her heart, and she died at the scene despite attempts to revive her.
The investigation into Andrea Nunez's death quickly focused on local gang activity, with home security camera footage from a nearby apartment playing a crucial role. The video captured the suspects appearing to follow Nunez and her boyfriend and then fleeing after the gunshot. This evidence, along with witness statements, led police to identify two primary suspects: 17-year-old Adrian Mendoza and 17-year-old Marin J. Rivera Jr. Mendoza was identified as the shooter and was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, with prosecutors asserting he acted with premeditated intent. Rivera was charged with second-degree murder for his role in the confrontation. Both teenagers were charged as adults due to the severity of the crime.
Further investigation revealed the callousness of the crime, with court documents indicating that the suspects were aware of Nunez's pregnancy before they decided to attack. Marin Rivera reportedly told detectives that he and Mendoza had been following the couple with the intent to assault them. The investigation also led to the arrest of Mendoza's mother, Maria Rachel Mendoza, who was accused of rendering criminal assistance after allegedly helping her son flee to Hermiston, Oregon, following the shooting. Authorities were able to track and apprehend Adrian Mendoza as he was returning to the Tri-Cities area. Another individual, Ezekiel Sanchez, was also implicated for illegally possessing a gun in connection with the shooting, though he was later killed in an unrelated incident.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Adrian Mendoza ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. In April 2023, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in the shooting death of Andrea Nunez and her unborn child. Marin J. Rivera Jr. pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aiding Mendoza after the murder. The case highlighted the devastating impact of gang violence on the community and left a family mourning the loss of a young mother-to-be whose life was senselessly taken.
