Man facing murder charge following fatal shooting

UPDATE: Somerton police have identified the woman who was killed and the man who was seriously injured after they were both shot Wednesday night.

The female victim has been identified as 24-year-old Clarissa Medina of Somerton, Ariz. She was pronounced dead at Yuma Regional Medical Center at 9:22 p.m. The male victim has been identified as 22-year-old Hugo Ponce Verdugo of San Luis, Ariz.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The man accused of fatally shooting a woman and seriously injuring another man in Somerton on Wednesday night was seen in court Thursday morning.

Oscar Quintero, 25, of Somerton, Ariz., was seen via video in a San Luis courtroom. He is being held at the Yuma County Adult Detention Center. In his initial court appearance he learned the charges he’s facing, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and three counts of aggravated assault. He is being held without bond. His next court appearance is on Monday.

Somerton police said at 8:30 p.m. officers received a 911 call of several gunshots fired in the area of 725 E. Main Street. Arriving officers located two gunshot victims in the parking lot at 725 E. Main Street; one adult man and one adult woman.

Both victims were transported by the Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department to the Yuma Regional Medical Center with life threatening injuries. The woman was pronounced dead at YRMC at 9:22 p.m. The man was airlifted to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Phoenix in serious condition.

The identification of the victims is being withheld pending the notification of family members.

Information gathered by first responding officers leads them to the identity of a possible suspect in this case. A short time later officers located the suspect’s vehicle parked in close proximity to the shooting. At 10:11 p.m. the suspect who was identified during the preliminary investigation was taken into custody by members of the Somerton Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety GIITEM Unit and U.S. Border Patrol Officers in the 400 block of East Main Street in Somerton.

The case remains under investigation by the Somerton Police Department Investigations Division, who is being assisted by DPS GIITEM, U.S. Border Patrol, Yuma Police Departments Crime Scene Forensic Team and the Yuma County Attorney’s Office. Anyone with any information concerning this investigation is asked to contact the Somerton Police Department at (928) 722-7300 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

No further information is available at this time.