TACOMA, WA - Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Javier Valenzuela Feliz, 30, with two counts of murder in the second degree for allegedly killing Wilberth Joel Lopez Acala, 22, and Adrian Valencia Cuevas, 19, in University Place last month. Valenzuela Feliz was arraigned today after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
On May 14, 2018, at approximately 5:30 a.m., officers arrived in the area of 63rd Street West in University Place for a welfare check on a vehicle that was blocking the street. There were two men in the front seat of the car. The driver had a gunshot wound to the right side of his head and the front passenger had a gunshot wound to the left side of his head. The victims were later identified as Wilberth Joel Lopez Acala and Adrian Valencia Cuevas. Both were confirmed dead at the scene.
Officers found blood in the driver’s seat and shell casings and beer cans in the back seat.
Video footage from the area recorded two males climbing out of the window of the vehicle and running from the area. One of the men was identified as the defendant, Valenzuela Feliz, and the other as Alex Lopez Leon.
Detectives spoke with Lopez Leon. He said he, the two victims, and Valenzuela Feliz, were driving around firing a gun. Valenzuela Feliz had the gun and was shooting. He then shot the front passenger in the head and told the driver to find an area they could discard the body. When they arrived in the location the vehicle was found, Valenzuela Feliz shot the driver. Lopez Leon and Valenzuela Feliz climbed out of the vehicle and ran. Lopez Leon reported that he had no idea why either victim was shot, but said he later heard media reports calling the killings drug related.
Bail was set at 2,000,000.00.
Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For more information, please contact James Lynch at (253) 798-6265, [email protected].