Crime
Victim killed in shooting at Chesterley Skate Park in Yakima identified as 36-year-old Raul Macias
The victim of Monday evening’s deadly shooting at Chesterley Skate Park in Yakima has been identified as 36-year-old Raul R. Macias. Yakima Police Department officials say Macias was fatally shot in the presence of his three children around 7:20 p.m. on May 12.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police responded to reports of a gunshot victim at Chesterley Park, located at 3702 River Road.
Upon arrival, officers found Macias suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso while a bystander attempted CPR.
Despite continued lifesaving efforts by officers, paramedics pronounced Macias dead at the scene.
Witnesses reported that Macias had been in an argument with three individuals shortly before he was shot once by one of them.
A witness provided police with a photo of the suspects, one of whom was described as wearing red sweatpants and a red sweatshirt and allegedly pointed a firearm at the witness after the shooting.
Yakima police, assisted by Washington State Patrol and the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search in the surrounding area.
Two of the suspects were located in the 3400 block of Chesterley Lane between residential homes.
As officers approached, the men attempted to flee by jumping a fence but were detained shortly after.
One was later released after refusing to cooperate; the other, identified as a 22-year-old Jesus Ramiro Rodriguez transient and alleged Norteño gang member, was taken into custody.
During the search, officers recovered a 9mm pistol, a revolver, and a 9mm shell casing believed to be connected to the shooting.
The suspect was booked into the Yakima County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, and second-degree assault. He is expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.
Court records reveal that the suspect had a prior conviction for third-degree assault in 2019, following a violent altercation in which he body-slammed another juvenile.
As part of his sentence, his right to possess firearms was revoked. He was also previously involved in a 2024 domestic violence incident that further prohibited him from legally owning weapons.
Yakima Police Capt. Chad Janis noted that early evidence suggests the shooting may be gang-related. An autopsy on Raul Macias is scheduled to be performed this week in Benton County, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Marshall Slight.
Macias’ death marks the second homicide in Yakima in less than a week. Just two days prior, 37-year-old Richard E. Peterson was fatally shot in a separate incident.
Police arrested Ka-Sean A. Smalley in connection with that case. In total, there have been four homicides reported in Yakima and seven across Yakima County so far this year.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information or footage from the Chesterley Park shooting to contact Sgt. Noah Johnson at (509) 576-6874.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.