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As part of his sentence, his right to possess firearms was revoked.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.
Crime
DeShaun Chatman Says Girl Found Dead in Suitcase in Cleveland Was His Missing Daughter, He Searched for 8-Year-Old Mila Chatman for Five Years
A Cleveland father says one of the two young girls whose bodies were discovered buried in suitcases earlier this week is his missing daughter, a child he says he had been desperately searching for over the past five years.
DeShaun Chatman told reporters that 8-year-old Mila Chatman, one of the victims identified by investigators, is believed to be his daughter. Chatman said he had spent years attempting to locate and regain contact with the child through legal channels and by reaching out to authorities.
“I’ve been looking for my daughter for five years,” Chatman said. “I’ve been calling child protective services, going to the courts, trying to get emergency custody, and calling the police for welfare checks. But they denied all access.”
The tragic discovery occurred Monday evening in Cleveland after a local resident walking his dog noticed the animal repeatedly sniffing around a field near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue.
The man contacted police after the dog led him to a partially buried suitcase. When officers responded to the scene, they located a shallow grave containing a suitcase with the body of a young girl inside.
As investigators canvassed the surrounding area, they discovered a second shallow grave nearby containing another suitcase with the body of another child.
Authorities later identified the victims as Mila Chatman, 8, and her half-sister, Amor Wilson, 10.
Both girls were found inside the suitcases buried in the field. The Cleveland Division of Police continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Investigators subsequently arrested the girls’ mother, Aliyah Henderson, on Wednesday evening. She is currently facing charges of murder and endangering children in connection with the deaths.
Following the discovery, Chatman visited the site where the girls were found. A memorial has since formed there, with community members leaving flowers, candles, and stuffed animals in remembrance of the children. Witnesses described Chatman being visibly distraught as friends comforted him at the scene.
“What I’m feeling is hate. I’m not going to lie, I feel hate,” Chatman said while speaking about the loss. “I just want my daughter.”
Chatman said the last time he saw Mila was several years ago when he helped purchase clothing for her kindergarten school year. He alleged that the child’s mother had avoided contact with him and frequently moved residences, making it difficult for him to locate the girl.
“I don’t get how you can hate your kids enough to kill them,” he said. “To bury them. To do all this, go right to that home and live there when your kids are right here.”
The grieving father is now calling for changes to family court and child welfare laws, saying he believes the current system prevented him from being able to protect his daughter and maintain contact with her.
“Change these laws. Make it better,” he said. “A man does have a say in their child’s life, married or unmarried.”
Chatman also confirmed that he is currently cooperating with investigators and undergoing DNA testing to formally confirm paternity as part of the ongoing investigation.
“I’m still in contact with the detectives,” he said. “We’re doing the DNA samples, so I’ll get more details within the next couple of days.”
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected to be released as detectives continue working to determine when and how the two children were killed.