Investigators have recovered the gun allegedly used to kill a Connell man Thursday as well as a vehicle belonging to the suspect.
Connell Police Chief Mike Kessler told the Herald on Sunday night that law enforcement found the black 1988 Ford Mustang belonging to Julio Cesar Hernandez, 40, in Othello, along with the .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun that killed Saul Ramos Arrazate, 30.
The Franklin County Coroner's Office confirmed Sunday night that Arrazate died of multiple gunshot wounds "within minutes" of being shot. Deputy coroner Amanda Richmond declined to provide more details because of the ongoing investigation.
Kessler said the last confirmed sighting of Hernandez placed him in Othello between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday. It is not known where he is currently or where he is possibly heading. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Connell police were called to Pioneer Park Apartments on Elm Street at 8:30 p.m. Thursday for a possible shooting and found Arrazate dead when they arrived.
Hernandez quickly was identified as a suspect, and police tracked him with a cellphone. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office helped Connell police with collecting evidence and documenting the crime scene.
The shooting is the first homicide in Benton and Franklin counties in 2013 and the first in Connell in 19 years.
-- Ty Beaver: 509-582-1402; tbeaver@tricityherald.com; Twitter: @_tybeaver
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