Envy Apartment

A 24-year-old man is wanted for questioning in the Friday evening shooting of a woman at a Benton City apartment . Christian M. Hernandez has been named as a “person of interest” by the Benton County Sheriff ’s Office. Hernandez, who’s also known as “Lil Criminal” and “Phat Boy,” is believed to be armed and dangerous. He is suspected of shooting Mariah Coronado in the back with a rifle. Coronado, 22, was inside the apartment at Eighth Street and Della Avenue with several other people when she was shot, Sheriff Jerry Hatcher has said. He initially said that investigators weren’t sure if the shooting was accidental or intentional. Coronado was picked up by an acquaintance and driven to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, according to an update from the sheriff’s office. Deputies responded to the hospital after being alerted by medical staff about a gunshot victim. She is still being treated for her injuries. In addition to Hernandez, investigators are looking for two potentia...

A suspect and two witnesses in a Friday shooting in Benton City have fled the state. The Benton County Sheriff ’s Office said in a news release that Christian Michael Hernandez , 24, is headed to Southern California. Jazmin Marie Torres , 25, and Francisco Morales Jr ., 24, are said to be with him. Hernandez is suspected of shooting Mariah Renee Coronado , 22. The woman was shot in the back with a rifle and found in her apartment. Sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Brockman said deputies spoke to Coronado on Saturday and that “everything’s pointing to it being an accident.” However, Brockman said, Hernandez is a convicted felon. That automatically bars him from touching a gun. An acquaintance picked up Coronado from her apartment at 703 8th Street and rushed her to Kadlec Regional Medical Center . She’s still being treated for her injuries. Sheriff Jerry Hatcher said that Hernandez, also known as “Phat Boy” or “Lil Criminal,” fled in a 2012 beige Chevy Malibu sedan with a temporary license plate . ...

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 ba...