Suspect Identified In First Homicide Of 2012

A 23 year old man faces a charge of second degree murder after he was arrested in a fatal stabbing in Southeast Yakima on Tuesday. Freddie Deleon is being held in the Yakima County jail. He's expected to make his first court appearance later today in connection with the first homicide of the year in the city. Authorities say Deleon stabbed the 31 year old Angel Mendez while fighting in the eastbound lanes of East Walnut late Tuesday afternoon. Mendez died at a Yakima hospital. Police say the two had an ongoing fued when they met while walking down the street on Tuesday.