Grant County man charged in ex’s homicide

Grant County sheriff’s detectives say a Mattawa man gunned down his girlfriend because she wanted to break up with him. Jose Abilion Aguilar Aguilar, 35, was arrested Monday night in connection with the Oct. 16 shooting death of Carmelita Lopez Santos, of Yakima. He was booked in Grant County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, alien in possession of a firearm, felony harassment and intimidating a witness. Santos’ body was found by a hunter in a recreation area off of Road 26 Southwest. The investigation revealed Aguilar and Santos were in a romantic relationship and Aguilar was allegedly upset when Santos broke off that relationship. The Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Yakima Police and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted in the investigation.