Executive Summary
- Juan Estrada-Lopez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree assault in the shooting death of his tenant.
- The victim was identified as 48-year-old Gregorio Garza, who was shot in his East Wenatchee home in April.
- The plea deal was reached after an initial arrest on a charge of first-degree murder.
- Sentencing is scheduled for January 8, with a standard range of 13 to 22 years in prison for the murder charge.
An East Wenatchee man pleaded guilty on Thursday to second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of his tenant in April. Juan Estrada-Lopez, 44, entered the plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors, which also included guilty pleas on two counts of second-degree assault.
According to reports from the East Wenatchee Police Department, the incident occurred in the 100 block of Ninth Street Northeast. Investigators stated that Estrada-Lopez entered the residence of his tenant, 48-year-old Gregorio Garza, and shot him once with a handgun. Estrada-Lopez was subsequently arrested and initially charged with first-degree murder.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, the charge was reduced to second-degree murder. The standard sentencing range for this offense is between 13 and 22 years of incarceration. A sentencing hearing for Estrada-Lopez has been scheduled for January 8.
The plea agreement concludes the legal proceedings that began with the initial first-degree murder charge. All accused individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty or until a plea is entered in a court of law.