Suspect held in homicides

OTHELLO, Wash. – A 31-year-old Connell, Wash., man has been arrested in connection with the double homicide in Othello on Tuesday night.

Francisco A. Rizo was arrested about 3 p.m. Thursday and was booked into Adams County Jail. He will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder, according to Sheriff Doug Barger. The Border Patrol has placed a hold on Rizo, according to booking information.

Barger said the incident stemmed from a verbal and physical confrontation between the two victims, Juan Luis Rizo-Torres, 39, and Ruben Gonzalez-Navarrete, 29, and another orchard worker. Francisco Rizo allegedly confronted the two victims and shot both with a small-caliber handgun, Barger said.