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- Suspect in 2008 Wapato shooting death formally charged
Suspect in 2008 Wapato shooting death formally charged
- By Review Staff
- Published 11/3/2009
- Front Page
- Unrated
A 19-year-old Yakima Valley man is in custody and has been formally charged in connection with the shooting death of Wapato teen Ricky Cabrera in November of 2008.
Stu Graham of the Yakima County Sheriff’s office said his deputies sought charges against Delfino Juan Benson after sheriff investigators received new information from a witness who was at the scene of the shooting on Nov. 18, 2008, in Wapato.
The Yakima County Prosecutor’s office filed documents on Monday, Oct. 26, charging Benson with first-degree murder and attempted murder in Yakima County Superior Court.
After issuing an arrest warrant last week, Benson surrendered without incident on Friday, Oct. 30 to authorities in Puyallup.
In addition to Benson, also arrested in connection with the Cabrera’s murder were Benson’s 45-year-old mother, and 19-year-old man both of Union Gap along a 13-year-old male juvenile from Wapato.
According to court records, Cabrera was shot near his home in the 4500 block of North Track Road at 6:40 p.m. after a group of individuals riding in a car spotted the Wapato teen and his friend walking to the store.
Information from witnesses have stated Benson’s mother was driving several teens around in the car at the time of the shooting. Deputies believe the shooting was in retaliation for a fatal gang shooting in Sunnyside earlier in the year.
The witness told deputies Benson opened fire, striking Cabrera, who died shortly after being taken to Toppenish Community Hospital.
Stu Graham of the Yakima County Sheriff’s office said his deputies sought charges against Delfino Juan Benson after sheriff investigators received new information from a witness who was at the scene of the shooting on Nov. 18, 2008, in Wapato.
The Yakima County Prosecutor’s office filed documents on Monday, Oct. 26, charging Benson with first-degree murder and attempted murder in Yakima County Superior Court.
After issuing an arrest warrant last week, Benson surrendered without incident on Friday, Oct. 30 to authorities in Puyallup.
In addition to Benson, also arrested in connection with the Cabrera’s murder were Benson’s 45-year-old mother, and 19-year-old man both of Union Gap along a 13-year-old male juvenile from Wapato.
According to court records, Cabrera was shot near his home in the 4500 block of North Track Road at 6:40 p.m. after a group of individuals riding in a car spotted the Wapato teen and his friend walking to the store.
Information from witnesses have stated Benson’s mother was driving several teens around in the car at the time of the shooting. Deputies believe the shooting was in retaliation for a fatal gang shooting in Sunnyside earlier in the year.
The witness told deputies Benson opened fire, striking Cabrera, who died shortly after being taken to Toppenish Community Hospital.