Boy, 16, Guilty Of Murder -- Reason He Shot Couple At Park Bench A Mystery

A 16-year-old High Point teen was convicted today of first-degree murder and attempted murder for the Alki Beach-area slaying of a woman and the wounding of her friend last summer.

A King County Superior Court jury deliberated about two hours before finding that Aries Faletogo killed Sheryl Hernandez, 28, and shot Chris Roybal, 27, as they sat on a park bench near midnight Aug. 15.

The jury convicted Faletogo on the strength of testimony from three witnesses, Roybal, and two of Faletogo's fellow gang members who said they accompanied him to the park that night.

Faletogo was tried as an adult because of the seriousness of the crime and faces a prison sentence of more than 20 years.

Prosecutors could offer no motive for the killing. Faletogo apparently did not know either of the victims.

His two friends testified he said he was going to ask the couple what time it was. They said they heard shots and Faletogo remarked when he returned, "Murder on the boulevard, murder on the boulevard."

Roybal, who has lost the sight in his left eye, testified Faletogo asked him what time it was. Roybal didn't have a watch but estimated the time to be near midnight.

Faletogo began to walk away before he turned around, said Roybal, and pulled a gun from his waistband. After asking, "Are you sure about that?" Faletogo shot Roybal in the eye and Hernandez twice in the head from close range.

Faletogo did not testify, but family members told the jury he was home with them the night of the murder. However, they never told police what they testified to in court.

Defense attorney David Marshall contended the two 19-year-old gang members testified against Faletogo to save themselves and were promised immunity if they testified.

The two men have been held on material-witness warrants at undisclosed locations since being arrested shortly after the attacks.

Marshall said Roybal's positive identification in court was mistaken, that the attack occurred in a dimly lit area and Roybal had too little time to view the attacker.