What began as a conflict between Amazon co-workers ended in tragedy. An 18-year-old died after being shot by a co-worker at a truck stop in Pasco, Washington, on the morning of Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
According to court documents, the victim, Javier Adrián Romero, 18, had agreed to meet with Gilbert M. López, 21, to resolve a dispute that had arisen days earlier at his workplace. The fight originated when Romero overheard Lopez making offensive comments about a friend of his in the bathroom of the warehouse where they both worked, which led to an argument.
The encounter that ended in tragedy
According to the police report, the two men agreed to fight each other during their work break.
They chose as their meeting point the King City Truck Stop, located on East Hillsboro Street near Highway 395 in Pasco.
However, the situation escalated rapidly.
Gilbert M. López arrived first at the site with a friend and parked his truck near the gas pumps.
Both entered the store to buy food while waiting for Javier Adrián Romero.
Minutes later, the victim’s friend arrived in another vehicle, saw Gilbert M. López at the scene and called Javier Adrián Romero to warn him.
When Romero arrived, he approached Gilbert M. Lopez’s truck.
Witnesses claimed that the driver was hiding a gun behind the door.
As soon as Romero approached, Lopez fired twice. Romero fell to the ground, seriously wounded.
After the shooting, Lopez drove directly to the Franklin County Courthouse, where he called 911.
According to the report, he told dispatchers that he had shot a co-worker who “tried to run to his vehicle.”
The operators instructed him to proceed to the Pasco police station, where he was subsequently arrested without resistance.
The judicial process
Lopez appeared in court on Thursday, October 23, charged with second-degree murder.
He remains in custody at the Franklin County Jail on $1 million bail.
He stated that he plans to hire an attorney, and the next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, November 11.
Authorities noted that the dispute involved three Amazon employees and that tension between them had been escalating for several days prior to the shooting.
The victim: a young man with dashed dreams
Javier Adrián Romero was transported to a local hospital, where he died shortly thereafter from his injuries.
His family described him as “a beloved son, brother, nephew and friend,” through a GoFundMe fundraising campaign organized by Teresita Sanchez, the young man’s aunt.
“We want to give him the dignified goodbye he deserves, but funeral costs are a very difficult burden at this time,” wrote the family, which is seeking support to cover the expenses.
His uncle, Salvador Sanchez, shared a message on social networks remembering Javier as a young man full of energy and dreams.
You had just started your life, you had just bought your dream car. You had so much ahead of you, and it hurts us deeply that your journey has been cut short so soon
Javier Adrián Romero's uncle
The case remains under investigation by Pasco Police and the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, who are seeking to determine if there was premeditation or if the shooting was the result of a confrontation that got out of control.
Romero’s death has shocked the local community and his co-workers, who describe him as a respectful and hardworking young man.
Their story reflects how a seemingly minor argument can turn into a tragedy with irreversible consequences.
