A Custer man accused of killing a 52-year-old man and assaulting two women was arraigned in Whatcom County Superior Court on Friday, Jan. 24 for one count of second-degree murder and two counts of assault.
Valentin Rivera, 43, pleaded not guilty to the shooting death of Angel Rodriguez on the evening of Jan. 11.
According to court documents, Whatcom County Sheriff Office deputies responded to a domestic violence call around 10:30 p.m at the 8300 block of Valley View Road in Custer. While en route, the reporting party said they heard three rapid fire gunshots followed by a single shot.
When deputies arrived, Rivera’s daughter told deputies he had gotten in a fight with Rodriguez because Rivera did not want Rodriguez driving home intoxicated, according to court documents. Both men were intoxicated at the time. Rivera’s wife stepped between the two men to stop them from fighting but she was pushed against the wall by Rivera.
Rivera’s wife and daughter were then allegedly assaulted by him while trying to help Rodriguez who had fallen to the ground in a hallway, according to court documents.
His wife later told detectives she remembered getting hit in the head by Rivera and then waking up when she was placed in handcuffs by law enforcement, according to court documents.
Inside the home, deputies found Rodriguez lying in an open closet. Rodriguez was dead and had multiple gunshot wounds, according to court documents. Rivera was found by deputies unresponsive on the floor with a handgun on the ground under his head. Shell casings were found in the hallway and a magazine for the gun was found in a bedroom.
Rivera and his wife were transported to the hospital for treatment. Rivera was booked into the Whatcom County Jail after he was medically cleared.
Rivera remains in custody and bail is set at $2 million.
His next court appearance is Feb. 19.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
