In the fall of 2014, the life of 53-year-old Hispanic male Arturo M. Gallegos was tragically cut short in what authorities would later describe as a gruesome execution. On the evening of November 1st, Gallegos and his younger brother, Juan de Dios Rodriguez-Gallegos, were fatally shot in the Spokane Valley apartment they shared at the Broadway Square Apartments. Gallegos had been a resident of Spokane for seven years, having previously lived in Oxnard, California, for 46 years.
He was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and was known by friends and family for his resourcefulness and his love for 4x4 trucks, music, and helping those in need. He had worked for over two decades at P.A.C. Foundries and cherished spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly focused on a family member. Law enforcement arrested Christopher B. Ramirez, the nephew of the two victims. Prosecutors charged Ramirez with two counts of first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents, a diary entry written by Arturo Gallegos detailed a threat made by Ramirez months earlier on July 5th. Ramirez had reportedly confronted his uncle with a knife, believing Gallegos was involved with his girlfriend. Several other relatives confirmed to police that Ramirez had threatened the brothers and was mentally unstable. Some had even received a threatening text message from Ramirez's phone that included a picture of the brothers on the same day as the initial threat.
The details that emerged about the night of the murders were chilling. Physical evidence and witness statements suggested that the killer likely knew the victims. Arturo Gallegos was shot at close range in the face while he was sitting on his bed. The attacker then fired two shots through the bedroom door, striking Juan Gallegos-Rodriguez. As Juan fled the apartment, the assailant pursued him, firing nine more shots from a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, with at least one shot to the head. Multiple witnesses described seeing a man matching Ramirez's description leaving the scene shortly after the gunshots. A neighbor also told police that a man who identified himself as "Demon" had approached his house that night, stating he needed to get away from the police because he was carrying a knife and was under Department of Corrections supervision. The neighbor refused to give him a ride. Ramirez was subsequently taken into custody and held in the Spokane County Jail.
