Tri-Cities teen pleads to role in New Year’s Eve 2022 killing at Richland apartments
A gang member faces up to 12 years in prison for his part in the deadly New Year’s Eve shooting at a troubled Richland apartment complex.
Court documents say Rafael “Bubba” Torres Topete, 18, fired twice at Michael Castoreno, 21, at the Columbia Park Apartments after they came across each other on Dec. 31, 2022.
Torres Topete entered a plea to first-degree manslaughter in Benton County Superior Court on Wednesday.
While he didn’t admit to the committing the crime, he said he wanted to take advantage of the plea agreement. Torres Topete had been charged with second-degree murder.
Along with his fellow gang member, Felipe Manjares, 20, he was allegedly walking through the apartment complex when they came across Castoreno and a friend.
They allegedly opened fire after learning about Castoreno’s gang affiliation, according to court documents.
Castoreno’s mother said her son was not involved in gangs.
Torres Topete is facing between nine and 12 years in prison when he’s sentenced. Prosecutors plan to ask for the maximum end of the range, and his defense attorney plan to ask for minimum end of the range.
He is already serving time in the state juvenile rehabilitation system in connection with other crimes. State law allows teens to stay in the juvenile dentention until their mid-20s.
While Castoreno’s mother said she was happy with how prosecutors have handled the case, she told the Tri-City Herald that she was frustrated that the sentence was so short.
Manjares remains charged with first-degree murder in Benton County Superior Court. His trial is scheduled for July 29.
Manjares’ mother, Rosalina Guzman, 39, pleaded guilty to first-degree rendering assistance after she helped her son flee to Oklahoma.
Her boyfriend, Valentin D. Sanchez, remains charged with first-degree rendering criminal assistance for allegedly helping the two teens leave the scene. His trial is scheduled for May 6.
New Year’s Eve shooting
The shooting started after Castoreno and another man crossed paths with a group of teens in the middle of the apartment complex about 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve 2022.
The teens allegedly asked what their two gang affiliations were, and when Castoreno answered, one teen pulled a gun out and began firing, according to court documents.
Video surveillance showed four shots fired, which are believed to have been from Manjares. Then Torres Topete is believed to have fired two more times.
The group then ran and left Castoreno for dead.
A police dog search led officers to an apartment that had been tied to a separate investigation into recent robberies in the area.
Manjares and several others involved in the shooting were identified through a photo posted on Instagram from the night of the shooting, in which they were wearing the same clothing as seen on security cameras in the area.
Manjares was allegedly referred to by the nickname “Shooter.”
Police said they were also were able to tie shell casings found at the scene to a series of shootings in Mabton, Sunnyside and Yakima County.
At least one of those shootings was tied to a group of brothers, one of them being Manjares, a known gang member, according to court documents.
About half an hour after the shooting, a witness said Guzman arrived at the convenience store across from the apartment complex with Sanchez but the complex was blocked by police responding to the shooting. Manjares and his brothers then left, according to court documents.
After identifying the vehicle they were in, investigators tried to contact Sanchez. He allegedly referred investigators to his attorney, who told them they were headed to Caldwell, Idaho. The vehicle was found at his father’s home in Caldwell.
The shooting ended a violent year for Benton County, which had a record 19 homicides.
