EVERETT — Police arrested a second person Tuesday in connection with a fatal December shooting in Everett’s Silver Lake neighborhood.
The arrest of another 18-year-old man, Martin Mirey Alvarez, comes eight days after Bryan Hernandez-Ramirez was taken into custody in connection with the Dec. 11 case, according to the Everett Police Department.
Alvarez is being held in Snohomish County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder. He made his first court appearance on Wednesday when Everett District Court Judge Tam T. Bui found probable cause to hold Alvarez on first-degree murder and robbery charges. Bail was set at $2 million.
Alvarez’s mother sat in the front row. His attorney noted she is a single parent and that he lives with her.
“It was a bad idea that ultimately he [Alvarez] chose to go along with,” deputy prosecutor William Doyle said in the courtroom. “He chose to get into the back seat … he was very much part of the team to work together to lure this victim that ultimately led to his death.”
Hernandez-Ramirez made his first court appearance Feb. 26, where Everett District Court Pro Tem Judge David Ruzumna found probable cause for two counts of murder. Bail was set at $2 million.
On Wednesday, Everett Police Department spokesperson Natalie Given said charges against Hernandez-Ramirez are expected to be amended to first-degree murder after new evidence emerged while he has been in custody.
Around 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 1700 block of 121st Street Southeast and found the 42-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics attempted lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police believe Alvarez and Hernandez-Ramirez, both with strong alleged gang ties, lured the victim to the site of the shooting with the promise of a sexual meetup, according to a probable cause affidavit.
On the morning of Dec. 11, police believe Hernandez-Ramirez messaged the 42-year-old South Everett man on social media about robbing someone and splitting the profits, court documents said. The victim declined but discussed a possible sexual meet-up. When the victim said he enjoyed group sex, Hernandez-Ramirez offered to bring a friend.
Before the shooting, Hernandez-Ramirez posted photos and videos with firearms, including a Ruger pistol and references to his gang ties to South Side Locos. Detectives then found images of Alvarez flashing gang signs on Snapchat. Alvarez admitted to being a member of the gang during a police interview, according to court documents.
Hernandez-Ramirez and the victim agreed to meet at Wendy’s on the 9900 block of 19th Avenue Southeast. According to court documents, surveillance footage showed Hernandez-Ramirez and another male outside Wendy’s before getting into the victim’s Mercedes, which later arrived at the Charter Club Apartments parking lot at 7:30 p.m.
Minutes later, the victim was discovered dead in his car.
Additional footage showed Alvarez return alone to Family Tree Apartments 33 minutes after the shooting. Google Maps estimates the walk would take 38 minutes, police said. Investigators believe the timing was consistent with Alvarez fleeing the scene.
During an interview with police on Tuesday, Alvarez first said he left the Charter Club Apartments parking lot before the shooting, court documents said. When a police officer said camera footage showed Alvarez had not left, he admitted to have been there during the time of the shooting.
“While Alvarez claimed he had not actually taken part in the robbery and shooting … Alvarez admitted to knowing that [omitted name] was armed with a gun and was planning to rob…before he decided to go with,” detective Alexander Helphrey wrote in court documents. “All of these actions made Alvarez a party to the attempted robbery and the murder of [omitted name]…there is probable cause to believe that Martin M. Alvarez…committed the crime of murder in the first-degree.”
Investigators found five 9mm shell casings near the Mercedes. An autopsy showed the victim was shot five times.
Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the Everett Police Department tip line at 425-257-8450 or Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Aspen Anderson: 425-339-3192; aspen.anderson@heraldnet.com; X: @aspenwanderson.
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