A Vancouver man accused in a gang-related shooting in east Vancouver entered not-guilty pleas Thursday to second-degree murder, possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Luis Fernando Perez Mejia, 23, is set for trial Nov. 22 in Clark County Superior Court. He is being held on $1.5 million bail.
Vancouver police officers responded at 6:13 p.m. Aug. 21 to a parking lot at 2715 N.E. 138th Ave. for reports of a shooting. There, they found Armando P. Valencia, 34, fatally shot in the chest, according to a probable cause affidavit.
A witness said he was meeting with Valencia in the parking lot to buy a set of speakers, court records state.
He told police that Perez Mejia and Ludvin Alexander Urbina Marroquin drove up next to Valencia’s car in a blue Honda Civic. The witness said the pair asked Valencia what his gang affiliation was and that Valencia showed them a hand symbol, according to the affidavit.
He then said Perez Mejia rolled down his window more, displayed a revolver and fired several shots, the affidavit states.
Law enforcement databases show Perez Mejia as a Sureno gang member and Valencia as a rival Norteno gang member, according to court records.
The witness later identified Perez Mejia from photos as the person who shot Valencia, court records state.
He told police that after the shooting, Urbina Marroquin called him and told him to tell anyone who asked that a different car was there instead of the blue Honda, according to the affidavit.
During a police interview, Perez Mejia said he was at the parking lot during the shooting and that he heard gunshots, according to the affidavit, but he denied being the shooter.
Urbina Marroquin told police he was there for the shooting, too, and that Perez Mejia shot Valencia. He also said he called the witness and told him to lie about the car, the affidavit states.
Court records show Urbina Marroquin has not been charged in connection with the shooting.
The Vancouver Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and “additional arrests are anticipated.”
