Arturo Ortiz, 23, was shot and killed on the evening of Thursday, June 11, 2026, in the south end of Mount Vernon, Washington. Friends identified Ortiz and remembered him as a charismatic young man who worked in the Skagit Valley fields. The shooting occurred about 5:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of South 2nd Street, an area described as a mix of businesses and working-class homes.

Police said the violence began with an altercation between two groups. At some point during that confrontation multiple shots were fired; Ortiz was struck by at least one bullet and was pronounced dead at the scene after responders arrived. Investigators are treating the death as a homicide and were canvassing the neighborhood, reviewing surveillance and cellphone video, and seeking witnesses. No arrests or suspects had been publicly named.

If anyone saw the confrontation or has photos or video from the area that could help identify who fired the shots, please contact Mount Vernon police or the Skagit County dispatch line.