Manuel A. Ortiz-Ornelas, aged 21, was tragically shot and killed on January 3, 2017, in Burien, a suburb of Seattle, WA. The incident occurred outside the Alturas apartment complex at 1101 SW 139th Street. According to reports, the shooting was not related to a drug deal but was instead sparked by a dispute over gang tagging, a form of graffiti used by gangs to mark their territory.
The investigation revealed that the altercation leading to Ortiz-Ornelas's death was due to perceived
disrespect towards gang tagging. The suspect, Ernesto Josue Rios-Andrade, a 17-year-old from Tukwila, was charged with second-degree murder on January 6, 2017. Under Washington state law, 16- and 17-year-olds can be charged as adults for serious violent crimes, including murder, which is why Rios-Andrade's name was disclosed.
Rios-Andrade was initially booked into the King County Youth Services Center but was later transferred to the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, where he remained in lieu of $1 million bail. The charges against him stated that he was known to police as a member or associate of a local street gang with a significant presence in the greater Burien area. Police were also familiar with Ortiz-Ornelas, who was an admitted gang member.
The case highlighted the ongoing issues of gang violence and the impact of gang-related activities on the community. The management of the Alturas Apartments was noted to be cooperative with the police and committed to improving safety for their tenants and the surrounding community.
: Burien Police: Deadly Burien shooting caused by disrespect to gang tagging
