‘Person of interest’ arrested in Pasco after woman shot in the back in Benton City

A “person of interest” in the recent shooting of a woman at a Benton City apartment was arrested Thursday in Pasco.

Christian M. Hernandez, 24, was picked up at 6:30 p.m. by the Benton County sheriff’s gang enforcement team.

Hernandez, who’s also known as “Lil Criminal” and “Phat Boy,” is being held on investigation of illegal gun possession and a hold from the state Department of Corrections.

Mariah Coronado, 22, was shot in the back Aug. 18 at an apartment at Eighth Street and Della Avenue. Several other people were in the apartment at the time.

Investigators have said it wasn’t clear if the shooting was an accident.

Coronado was picked up by an acquaintance and driven to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. Deputies responded to the hospital after being alerted by medical staff about a gunshot victim.

Hernandez is a convicted felon who is not allowed to own or be in control of a gun. He pleaded guilty in January to methamphetamine possession, residential burglary and bail jumping.

In one case, Hernandez had broken into a neighbor’s Benton City home, rummaged through the cupboards and drawers and taken food, electronics and cash. He also cooked a pizza, and earlier plugged in an extension cord without permission, because the power at his own home had been turned off since it was being foreclosed, court documents said.

Then in November, Hernandez hid in a trunk when police came to an apartment to arrest him on a warrant. After a police dog found him, Hernandez had two glass pipes with meth residue in his pockets.

He was sentenced to three months on each case.

Sheriff's detectives are still trying to find two potential witnesses in Benton City, Francisco Morales Jr., 26, and Jazmin M. Torres, 25.

Earlier this week, the sheriff’s office said they may have fled the state and be headed to Southern California.

Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to call 509-628-0333 and reference case 17-12531.