Christmas Eve Kennewick Death Ruled a Homicide

After Benton County Coroner office's report on the woman who died Christmas Eve, Dr. Sigmund Menchel says it's a homicide.

21-year-old Luisa A. Garcia was found nearly dead near 609 North Tweedt Street shortly before 11:30pm Christmas Eve.

The suspect, who's been booked on 2nd Degree murder, Francisco Munoz, says the death was an accident. He says he and Garcia were in an argument, and he pointed the gun at her. As she tried to grab it, it went off once, hitting her. He hasn't been formally charged yet, but the 21-year-old man is in the Benton County jail on $500K bail.

Few other details have been released, say officials, because they don't want to jeopardize the investigation.