On a summer evening in Sunnyside, Washington, 15-year-old David Baldonado was riding his bicycle down Gregory Avenue on July 17, 2010, when his life was tragically cut short. A white Cadillac pulled up, and a 16-year-old named Alex Bueno emerged from the vehicle. Bueno shouted a gang challenge and then fired two shots at close range, striking David in the neck, chest, and arms.
David Baldonado was not a member of a gang, but was tragically mistaken for one because of the maroon shirt and red belt he was wearing that day. He was pronounced dead at Sunnyside Community Hospital.
The investigation into the senseless killing led to the swift arrest of several suspects. Alex Bueno was identified as the shooter and was subsequently charged with murder. Also taken into custody were 18-year-olds Jorge Galindo Cardenas and Myra Sosa. A fourth suspect, 18-year-old Raul Robert Alvarez, was also identified but was initially at large. Court documents revealed that Bueno, Sosa, Cardenas, Alvarez, and a confidential informant were in the Cadillac when Bueno spotted David and ordered the driver to turn down the street. It was reported that Bueno, whose gang moniker was "Nightmare," held a gun to the driver's head to force him to follow his command.
Alex Bueno was tried as an adult and ultimately pleaded guilty to the murder of David Baldonado. In May 2011, he was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison before the possibility of parole. During his sentencing, Bueno expressed remorse for his actions. The other individuals in the car also faced legal consequences for their involvement in the events that led to the teenager's death. The violent and mistaken nature of the crime sent shockwaves through the Sunnyside community and highlighted the devastating impact of gang violence in the region.
