Renton police seek suspects in homicide outside restaurant

By Benjamin Leung • June 3, 2024 2:00 pm
The suspects drove a silver 2010 Toyota Sequoia. Police say the vehicle has “significant” front end and driver’s side damage. (Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.)
The suspects drove a silver 2010 Toyota Sequoia. Police say the vehicle has “significant” front end and driver’s side damage. (Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.)

Renton police are searching for multiple subjects who they say were witnesses or suspects at the scene of a 19-year-old man’s homicide May 18 outside a restaurant in Renton.

Renton police officers located 19-year-old Elmer Felipe Salazar-Rojas in his vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds after responding to a shooting at around 10 p.m. May 18 in the 100 block of Airport Way.

According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, Salazar-Rojas died as a result of the gunshot wounds. Medical examiners identified Salazar-Rojas’s death as a homicide.

Salazar-Rojas died at the scene after officers performed lifesaving measures and medical aid arrived, according to the Renton Police Department.

Renton police issued a request for public assistance on May 29, saying they identified two suspects, with one of the suspects having been seen shooting and killing the 19-year-old, and the other serving as a witness to the homicide. According to the department, the two men identified also serve as suspects in a connected assault where a 26-year-old man was attacked.

According to the department, the 26-year-old man stated to officers a group of men ranging from 25- to 50-years-old assaulted him in the parking lot of a restaurant as he was heading inside. Following the assault, Salazar-Rojas allegedly retaliated by ramming his vehicle in the suspect’s Toyota Sequoia.

One of the two men opened fire into the vehicle, striking Salazar-Rojas multiple times. According to the department, the 26-year-old man stated he never witnessed the shooting visually, hearing the shooting occur as he fled into the business.

The department described the two suspects as Hispanic men in their early to mid-30s. The suspects were driving a silver 2010 Toyota Sequoia, which has “significant” damage to the front end and driver’s side. Police have no information regarding the suspect vehicle’s license plate number.

Renton police issued an additional release on May 30, asking for public assistance in identifying two more men, with one serving as a suspect in the assault of the 26-year-old and a witness to the homicide, and another serving as a witness to both the assault and homicide. All suspects left the scene prior to the arrival of police.

Investigation continues into the death of Salazar-Rojas.

Renton police requested public assistance on May 30 in identifying the man pictured, stating he serves as both a suspect in the assault of a 26-year-old man and a witness to the homicide of a 19-year-old man. (Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.)

Renton police requested public assistance on May 30 in identifying the man pictured, stating he serves as both a suspect in the assault of a 26-year-old man and a witness to the homicide of a 19-year-old man. (Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.)

Renton police requested public assistance on May 30 in identifying the man pictured, stating he serves as a witness to both the assault of a 26-year-old man and to the homicide of a 19-year-old man. (Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.)

Renton police requested public assistance on May 30 in identifying the man pictured, stating he serves as a witness to both the assault of a 26-year-old man and to the homicide of a 19-year-old man. (Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.)

Renton police requested public assistance on May 29 in identifying the man pictured, stating he serves as one of two men suspected of assaulting of a 26-year-old man, with one of the pair having been seen shooting and killing a 19-year-old man. (Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.)

Renton police requested public assistance on May 29 in identifying the man pictured, stating he serves as one of two men suspected of assaulting of a 26-year-old man, with one of the pair having been seen shooting and killing a 19-year-old man. (Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.)

Renton police requested public assistance on May 29 in identifying the man pictured, stating he serves as one of two men suspected of assaulting of a 26-year-old man, with one of the pair having been seen shooting and killing a 19-year-old man. (Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.)

Renton police requested public assistance on May 29 in identifying the man pictured, stating he serves as one of two men suspected of assaulting of a 26-year-old man, with one of the pair having been seen shooting and killing a 19-year-old man. (Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.)