On the afternoon of November 28, 2023, 25-year-old Joel Renteria-Soto was found fatally shot in the driver’s seat of a white Honda in the 2200 block of I Street Northeast in Auburn. Officers responding to multiple reports of gunfire discovered the vehicle with numerous bullet holes; first responders attempted life-saving measures but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The King County Medical Examiner identified him and ruled the cause of death a gunshot wound to the torso, classifying the death as a homicide.

Family members described Joel as the youngest of five siblings who kept his smile and a loving nature despite a difficult upbringing. Auburn Police say they do not believe the shooting was random, have not released a suspect description, and have made no arrests. Investigators are reviewing nearby camera footage and the investigation remains open.

If anyone has information about Joel, the shooting, or saw activity in the area that afternoon, please share what you know with investigators.