Coroner: New Year’s Eve shooting death a homicide

The Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office ruled the shooting death of Daryl Lee Martinez, who died after he was shot during a fight at a New Year’s Eve party in Woodland, was a homicide.

The coroner’s office announced their determination following an autopsy Monday.

Martinez, 27, of Woodland, was shot and later died at about 1 a.m. at a house on 143 Whalen Road, according to the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said there were more than 20 guests at the party when a fight broke out among several people, and it’s unclear what started the fight.

The sheriff’s office said that night Gage Hess, a 22-year-old resident of the house, shot Martinez.

Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy Charlie Rosenzweig said Monday evening no arrests had been made.

“The investigation is ongoing,” he said. “We’ve made great strides in being able to interview over a dozen people at that party,” but there are still more to talk to.

At one point, Martinez left the party then returned, armed with a gun, the sheriff’s office said. Martinez reportedly waved the gun and pointed it at someone, threatening to shoot one of the other people at the party, police said.