Police: Teen killed in West Seattle park was set up, lured there by a girl



Update October 20, 2017 

SEATTLE -- Three suspects have been formally charged in the stabbing death of 15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez aka "Peachy."

16-year-old Diego Carballo-Oliveros, 17-year-old Elizabeth Cabrera-Aparicio and 18-year-old Jonatan Islas-Martinez are charged with first-degree murder. All are being charged as adults.

Prosecutors allege the defendants led the 15-year-old into the woods to rob him. More information below.

Update October 18, 2017

SEATTLE -- Seattle Police have arrested three of the four suspects accused of killing a Chief Sealth International High School sophomore on September 5.

15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez aka ‘Peachy’ was found stabbed to death on September 5 near the entrance to Westcrest Park.  Detectives say a 17-year-old girl, 17 year old boy, another juvenile of unknown age and an 18-year-old man were involved in the attack.

According to court documents, Facebook messages between ‘Peachy’ and a girlfriend show she lured him to the park that morning to meet so he could be robbed of his marijuana. She told detectives she "led Derek Juarez-Lopez to an area where, she claimed, three men armed with knives jumped and attacked him."  She claimed she ran off when "things got out of hand" and ‘Peachy’ was stabbed with a gun replica knife by the 18-year-old suspect.  She was arrested on Tuesday and booked into the Youth Services Center for Investigation of Murder.

Q13 News is not naming him until he is formally charged. He is being held on $750,000 bail.  Probable cause documents show the case was solved thanks to an anonymous tip identifying three of the suspects involved in the murder and corroboration from a witness.

Prosecutors have until October 20 to file official charges in the murder.

One of the other defendants in the case is currently facing charges in juvenile court of attempted robbery in the first degree and robbery in the first degree.  In that case, police say he used a knife in a robbery and robbery attempt.

 

SEATTLE -- A 15-year-old boy from West Seattle was supposed to start another year of high school last week. Instead, his family is planning his funeral after they say he was violently attacked at a West Seattle park on Tuesday, September 5th.

Detectives believe he may have been the victim of a robbery and they are asking the community for any leads that may help solve this case.



Italia Juarez-Lopez says the last time she spoke to her 15-year-old brother Derek was that morning. She says he called her in a panic.

“He said, 'Please come, I just got jumped!' I just heard the phone and wind like he’s running; running from somebody, running from something,” says Italia.

Italia says Derek told his family he’d planned to meet up with a girl earlier that morning before attending his sophomore orientation at Chief Sealth High School. Seattle police believe he may have been the victim of a robbery.

“I don’t know what my little brother was doing in the woods. He had nothing on him; his backpack. He had a backpack and that was gone,” says Italia.

Investigators believe it happened near the southern end of Westcrest Park.

“He got stabbed in the chest, stabbed in the stomach and then the back of the head. They opened the back of his head. They had to have hit him with something,” says Italia.

After calling his sister for help, Derek collapsed at the corner of SW Cambridge Street and 6th Avenue SW.

“He flagged down a lady. He was covered in blood and he flagged down a lady and she called 911 right away,” says Italia.

Italia says Derek later died at the hospital.

Derek’s mother, Veronica, says she desperately needs answers. She is not alone in her grief.

On Wednesday night, friends and loved ones gathered by candlelight to honor his life and say goodbye.



This week, WMW host David Rose went out with Seattle homicide detectives to post Crime Stoppers fliers in the area around 5th Ave. SW and SW Campbridge St. in West Seattle, to ask for the public's help to solve the case.

"We have received some calls where the caller actually hung up early. If you are that person, remember, you can remain anonymous. We're not tracking calls or anything. When you call the hot line you truly are anonymous, so if you are that person, please call back," said Ret. Det. Myrle Carner with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in this case. If you know anything, you're urged to call 1-800-222-TIPS, or use the P3 Tips App to submit your information.