A Kelso man who has twice been deported from the United States pleaded guilty to killing two men outside a Longview quinceañera in April and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Andres Carrasco-Sanchez, 49, pleaded guilty on Aug. 27 in Cowlitz County Superior Court to two counts of first-degree aggravated murder, with firearm enhancements, for the April 11 killings of Cristian Garcia Segundo, 21, and Sergio Adrian Segundo, 30, both of Mexico.
Carrasco-Sanchez also pleaded guilty to second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and alien in possession of a firearm, according to a news release from the Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Life without the possibility of parole is the only sentence available under Washington law for first-degree aggravated murder, the news release added.
The investigation also uncovered Carrasco-Sanchez’s previous immigration and criminal history.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Carrasco-Sanchez had previously been deported from the United States in 2004 and again in 2020. When he was deported in 2020, he was prohibited from entering the country for 20 years.
Court documents also allege Carrasco-Sanchez was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a 1995 felony conviction for first-degree possession of stolen property.
The shootings occurred April 11 outside the AWPPW Hall at 724 15th Ave. in Longview, where about 200 people had gathered for a quinceañera.
According to court documents previously obtained by The Reflector, Carrasco-Sanchez became angry after believing Garcia and Segundo, who he had never met, were making prolonged eye contact with his girlfriend and smiling at her. He interpreted the behavior as flirting and disrespect.
Carrasco-Sanchez argued with his girlfriend before leaving the party, according to the probable cause affidavit. He then drove to Rose Valley, obtained a handgun missing its serial number, and returned to the AWPPW Hall.
The Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Carrasco-Sanchez later admitted to investigators that his purpose in driving to Rose Valley was to obtain a gun so he could shoot the victims.
Carrasco-Sanchez waited outside the hall until the two victims exited the building. He approached the men and attempted to fight Garcia, according to court records. Segundo stepped between the two men.
Carrasco-Sanchez then pulled out the handgun and shot both men in the head.
Investigators said Carrasco-Sanchez later acknowledged that neither victim had struck him before the shooting.
During a post-Miranda interview with detectives, Carrasco-Sanchez allegedly admitted to shooting both men once in the head. He also asked investigators whether the victims had died.
According to court documents, he later told investigators, “It was their fault, they started it.”
As officers arrived at the scene, they identified a suspect vehicle leaving the area and began pursuing it through West Longview. During the pursuit, officers reported seeing a handgun thrown from a black Nissan pickup truck near 16th Avenue and Alabama Street. Police later recovered a black 9mm pistol with no serial number.
The pursuit eventually returned to the AWPPW Hall, where Carrasco-Sanchez was arrested following a brief foot chase.
Court records state Carrasco-Sanchez also admitted to fleeing the shooting, leading officers on the pursuit and throwing the firearm from his vehicle.
Responding officers found both victims suffering from gunshot wounds to the head. Garcia Segundo was transported to St. John Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Segundo was pronounced dead at the scene.
The two victims were cousins who were visiting the United States on work visas and were employed in Kennewick, according to the prosecutor’s office. Both men left behind family members in Mexico, including three young children.
The charges against Carrasco-Sanchez were initially filed April 15, four days after the shootings. Prosecutors charged him with two counts of aggravated murder in the first degree with firearm enhancements, unlawful possession of a firearm, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, and alien in possession of a firearm.
A judge granted the state’s request April 16 to hold Carrasco-Sanchez without bail pending trial. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment April 21.
Carrasco-Sanchez ultimately pleaded guilty to the charges Aug. 27. The prosecutor’s office said the guilty plea also avoided federal prosecution for possessing a firearm after illegally entering the United States.
The case was investigated by the Longview Police Department with assistance from the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Kelso Police Department and Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife on the scene.
The Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office credited Longview police with their efforts to apprehend Carrasco-Sanchez and investigate the killings.
“We recognize that the victims’ families continue to suffer from their tremendous loss and hope the resolution of this case will help them heal,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
The state was represented by Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Eric Bentson.
