Evencio Salas Birrueta, 28, was shot and killed on September 11, 2016, in Boardman, Oregon, after a daytime dispute over a debt connected to a small drug transaction. Earlier that day a 17-year-old, David Alvarez, allegedly punched Salas Birrueta in front of his young daughter over money owed. Later, Salas Birrueta returned to the Wilson Road Mobile Home Park with another person to confront Alvarez; that companion brought a handgun because Alvarez was known to carry and had made threats.

During the confrontation a single shot struck Salas Birrueta in the shoulder. He lost consciousness at the wheel, and the truck accelerated into a nearby field where the passenger managed to stop it. Officers found Salas Birrueta at the crash scene and life-saving efforts were unsuccessful. A search of the truck turned up a firearm, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia hidden behind the glove box. Alvarez fled to his father’s house near Longview, Washington, then surrendered to Cowlitz County authorities about 20 hours later.

Alvarez was charged with murder and unlawful use of a weapon and was later transferred to the Umatilla County Jail to face adult charges. In September 2017 he pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in a plea agreement; the murder charge was dropped and he received an enhanced sentence of 100 months in prison. Did anyone who knew either man see signs the dispute would escalate that day?