EVERETT — “Danger” still is on the lam, but his friend is facing serious charges.
The two men are suspected of orchestrating a shooting at Langus Riverfront Park last month that left a young woman paralyzed.
The woman alleges that she was the victim of domestic violence by Jose “Danger” Espinoza Aguilar, 23. Espinoza Aguilar’s crew has said the shooting was retribution for the woman stealing $2,000 worth of his heroin. She denies the theft.
Espinoza Aguilar is a wanted felon and well-known to Everett police. “He is very violent and an armed criminal,” prosecutors wrote in court papers.
“We are still looking for the public’s input” to help find him, Everett officer Aaron Snell said Friday.
It’s not the first shooting that’s been linked to Espinoza Aguilar.
He claimed self-defense after killing a man in Everett in 2015. He also reportedly was seen at a property in the Meadowdale area before an unsolved robbery and homicide in November.
The shooting at Langus Riverfront Park happened Jan. 11.
A co-defendant, 26-year-old Jorge I. Martinez, was arrested days later. He was charged Feb. 10 with first-degree assault with a firearm.
Prosecutors allege that the woman had called Martinez and asked for a ride. Instead of taking her home, Martinez reportedly drove her to the park, where Espinoza Aguilar was waiting.
Espinoza Aguilar threatened to shoot the woman through the window if she did not get out of the truck, she told detectives. When she unlocked the door, she was punched in the face and she took off running. She was shot in the back, and the bullet lodged in her spine.
She said she begged Espinoza Aguilar to take her to the hospital because she thought she was dying.
She said he responded, “Good. Just don’t die in my car. Do it in the hospital.”
A witness later came forward. The witness said Espinoza Aguilar had put a bounty of “$500 and some dope” out for the woman, court papers show. The witness also said that it was known to others that Espinoza Aguilar had become violent with the woman before.
Martinez has two previous felony convictions and a history of skipping court dates. The charges list mailing addresses for him in Everett, Marysville and a bail bond office in Tacoma.
Martinez’ bail in the Langus Riverfront Park shooting case was set at $150,000.
Anyone with information about Espinoza Aguilar is asked to call detectives at 425-257-8450. He may be driving a blue Chevrolet Cobalt. Tips can be anonymous.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rikkiking.
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