6 suspects are now charged in connection with a double homicide in Tacoma

Four more suspects were charged Friday in connection with a double homicide in Tacoma, bringing the total number of defendants to six.

Joe Duque Martinez, 30; Katherine Elieth Ugalde Torres, 17; Jesus Chuy Lopez Jr., 17; and Andy Campos Roman, 16, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder at arraignment. Bail for each was set at $1 million.

Under state law, 16- and 17-year-olds charged with murder automatically are tried as adults.

Also charged are 18-year-old Marcia Judith Ugalde, and 21-year-old Ronny Daniel Fernandez. They pleaded not guilty at arraignment Thursday.

The two killings were Tuesday.

Police found 30-year-old Francisco Beiza fatally shot in the 4400 block of Portland Avenue. Soon after, 23-year-old Joshua Youell was dropped off at Allenmore Hospital with a stab wound to his chest. He died in surgery.

Charging papers give this account of what happened:

Beiza owed Youell money, and Youell felt disrespected after they spoke on the phone Tuesday.

The group, driven by Ugalde, went to find Beiza. When they did, a scuffle broke out between the two men, and Youell was stabbed.

Surveillance video isn’t entirely clear, but Fernandez, Lopez and Roman apparently jumped out of the SUV, and Lopez and Roman start shooting at Beiza as he runs away.

Then Ugalde drove the group to the hospital, and they helped Youell inside.

Meanwhile, Martinez fled with a backpack. Investigators think he took the guns from the SUV with him.

This story was originally published July 27, 2018 at 6:05 PM.