Man pleads not guilty to nightclub shooting in Auburn

King County prosecutors say a jealous Cesar Chaparro-Vielma, 42, shot his estranged wife, Blanca Arroyos, her boyfriend, Marco Hernandez-Maradiaga his wife's two sisters and three bystanders in the early morning hours of July 24 inside the crowded Galaxy nightclub at the Muckleshoot Casino.

King County prosecutors say a jealous Cesar Chaparro-Vielma, 42, shot his estranged wife, Blanca Arroyos, her boyfriend, Marco Hernandez-Maradiaga his wife’s two sisters and three bystanders in the early morning hours of July 24 inside the crowded Galaxy nightclub at the Muckleshoot Casino.

On Tuesday, the Covington man pleaded not guilty to seven counts of first-degree assault. Each count includes a firearm sentencing enhancement. Chaparro-Vielma could spend from 89 to 101 years in prison. He remains in jail, with bail set at $1 million.

Auburn Police Detective Aaron Williams’s account, based on video surveillance and witness interviews, is as follows:

Chaparro-Vielma first came to the casino at midnight to confront his estranged wife. The two argued, he grabbed her, shook her and left.

At about 1:09 a.m., Williams’ account continues, Chaparro-Vielma returned and made his way across the dance floor to where his intended victims were dancing and allegedly began firing.

According to Williams’ account, surveillance video shows Chaparro-Vielma first approaching Hernandez-Maradiaga. He pulled out his gun with his left hand and fired at least two rounds at Hernandez-Maradiaga’s head. Somehow Hernandez-Maradiaga only received grazing wounds to the back of his head and fell down.

According to Williams account, Chaparro-Vielma gripped the gun with both hands and fired at his wife, then standing near her fallen boyfriend. She ducked and her sister, Etelvina, standing behind her, was shot in the face and fell to the ground.

According to Williams’ account, Blanca could be seen on the video on her knees in front of her husband, apparently trying to grab him, but he allegedly squeezed out a single shot, striking her in her right chest.

As that was happening, Williams’ account continues, the estranged wife’s other sister, Veronica Arroyos, tried to grab the gun. She struggled with Chaparro-Vielma for a split second before releasing him, turning and starting to run. Chaparro-Vielma raised his gun and fired once, possibly twice, hitting her in the back, according to Williams’ account.

According to Williams, Chaparro-Vielma then put the gun to his left temple and began to walk out of the club, but a casino security officer met him, tackled him, and took his gun.

Medics transported Hernandez-Maradiaga, Blanca Arroyos, Etalvina Morales-Arroyos and Veronica Arroyos to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Doctors released Hernandez-Maradiaga later that day with non-life-threatening injuries. Blanca Arroyos and her sister, Etalvina Morales-Arroyos, were listed in critical but stable condition. Veronica Arroyos was released from the hospital several days later.

Bystanders Taniela Niutupuivahai, Crystal Dandridge-Jackson and Kristen Anderson were transported to Valley Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Doctors treated and later released them all.

According to Williams’ account, Chaparro-Vielma later admitted to police that he had followed his estranged wife and her new boyfriend to the casino. He said he “couldn’t stand it” any more, so he walked up to the couple and opened fire.

According to Williams’ account, Chaparro-Vielma said of the shooting, “I think I made a mistake.”