Three Arrested in Beaverton Murder

The victim, 18-year old Alex Hernandez, died late Tuesday, as a result of the injuries sustained during his attack.

Counterclockwise from top left: 23-year old Nicholas Josue Sias, 22-year old Duane Everett Corbett and 18-year old Maciel Munoz. Photo: Beaverton Police

(BEAVERTON, Ore.) - Beaverton Police were called to the report of a stabbing on SW Hall Boulevard near SW Colony Lane August 31, 2009. Three suspects had reportedly attacked an 18-year old male with a knife. The victim, later identified as Alex Hernandez, died from his injuries on September 1, 2009.

Pam Yazzolino with Beaverton Police, says detectives identified the suspects and with the aid of the Washington County Major Crimes Team, Interagency Gang Enforcement Team, Eugene Police Department and the U.S. Marshall's Office have also arrested all three suspects associated with the homicide.

Police learned after the incident, that the 18-year old victim, Alexander Hernandez-Apale, and another 19-year old Hispanic male, were walking in the area when a vehicle drove by and then stopped in their vicinity, according to Yazzolino, who said, "Three males exited the car, approached the two males and began questioning them about their gang affiliation."

"During this time one of the three suspects brandished a knife and the two victims ran in opposite directions. All three suspects chased the 18-year old and caught up to him; pushed him to the ground and stabbed him in the upper torso approximately four or five times. The three suspects then ran back to their car and fled the scene," Yazzolino said.

The victim, known to friends and family as Alex Hernandez, died late Tuesday night, September 1st, as a result of the injuries sustained during his attack. Investigators had determined Alex was not gang affiliated but instead a random victim.

Beaverton detectives and witnesses met with a forensics artist to complete two composites that were distributed to the media as well as the local businesses in the area of the homicide.

"Coupled with the composites was a tip hot-line in which investigators received information that helped lead them to the identification of all three suspects," Yazzolino said. "In the course of investigating the Hernandez-Apale stabbing incident, police were notified of an additional stabbing victim being admitted to a nearby hospital. Police responded and made contact with that individual, later identified as Nicholas Sias."

She says it was believed he was a possible second stabbing victim. Sias had described a similar encounter as the first victim in where he was confronted while walking down the street. However, there were also many inconsistencies with Sias' story.

Yazzolino says that as the investigation unfolded, detectives learned Sias instead had a criminal connection to the Hernandez-Apale homicide.

"It was later confirmed he was one of the three suspects that had attacked Hernandez-Apale. While detectives are still continuing their investigation into the second stabbing, with the possibility of Sias' being a victim, information is limited at this time."

Arrests

Beaverton Detectives identified the three homicide suspects as 22-year old Duane Everett Corbett, 18-year old Maciel Munoz and 23-year old Nicholas Josue Sias.

On September 11, 2009 Corbett and Munoz were arrested with the assistance of the Eugene Police Department and the US Marshall's. Today Beaverton Detectives arrested the third suspect, Sias.

Corbett and Munoz are currently lodged at the Lane County Jail on the charge of Murder.

Sias will be lodged at the Washington County Jail on sex abuse charges from an unrelated investigation; charges relating to the homicide are pending. No additional information will be released about the case.