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Two more accused in fatal Brush Prairie shooting

Justin Schell, 44, Jonathan Oson, 36, appear on suspicion of first-degree murder

By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Local News Editor
Published: July 13, 2018, 12:52pm
3 Photos
Justin Schell, right, makes a first appearance in Clark County Superior Court on Friday morning, July 13, 2018, in connection with the homicide of Ariel Romano in Brush Prairie.
Justin Schell, right, makes a first appearance in Clark County Superior Court on Friday morning, July 13, 2018, in connection with the homicide of Ariel Romano in Brush Prairie. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian) Photo Gallery

Two more suspects are facing allegations of first-degree murder in a fatal Brush Prairie shooting that investigators say resulted from a drug deal gone wrong.

Justin Schell, 44, and Jonathan “Jon Jon” Oson, 36, both made first appearances Friday morning in Clark County Superior Court in connection with the June 9 death of Ariel Romano, 29.

A third co-defendant, Raul Flores, 44, was arraigned Wednesday on the same charge.

Washington State Patrol troopers responded about 1:40 a.m. to what was believed to be a fatal hit-and-run crash on state Highway 503 near Northeast 119th Street. They found Romano dead inside his car, which had struck a large tree near Prairie High School.

Investigators initially thought Romano died in the crash while street racing but later discovered he had been shot in the head.

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office found that Romano died of a shotgun wound to the left side of his head and ruled his death a homicide.

Investigators interviewed Oson after Flores was arrested in June, and Oson appeared in court earlier this month on allegations of being a felon in possession of a firearm and altering a firearm — the same weapon believed to have been used in the shooting.

Schell was identified as a person of interest early on, because he was one of the last people to have contact with Romano before his death, investigators said.

According to court documents, Romano was known to sell drugs and, based on phone records, had made plans to meet with Schell to sell to him. The men arranged to meet about 1:30 a.m. at a WinCo Foods on Northeast 119th Street.

However, Schell set Romano up to be robbed by Flores and Oson instead, court records say.

Surveillance footage pulled from WinCo showed an altercation in the parking lot between Romano, Flores and Oson. Romano then fled in his Toyota Corolla and was chased by a Lincoln LS sedan, driven by Flores, with Oson as the passenger, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The vehicles were southbound on Highway 503 when the Lincoln pulled up along the driver’s side of Romano’s car, and Oson shot him, the affidavit says. Romano lost control of his vehicle, left the road and crashed. The Lincoln sped away, the affidavit said.

A woman told troopers that Flores appeared upset in the days after the shooting, and he planned to leave the area and stay with a relative in Pasco. She said Flores told her “he observed Romano get shot … as he was driving,” court records state.

On June 28, investigators spotted Flores at a Portland gas station he was known to frequent; he was driving a Lincoln LS. Portland police pulled over the sedan at the troopers’ request and detained Flores, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Detectives didn’t have to go far to locate Oson. He was already in custody at the Clark County Jail in an unrelated assault case.

Troopers learned he had two cellphones in his personal property, and on one they discovered a photo of a chrome or silver pistol-grip shotgun. They reviewed jail calls made by Oson and located the shotgun, which he asked an acquaintance to stash at a Vancouver home in the 10300 block of Northeast 75th Place, court records say.

Law enforcement served a search warrant on the home June 30 and retrieved a silver shotgun — it was hidden under a futon cushion, wrapped in a towel. Someone had attempted to scratch off the gun’s serial number. Police also located a duffle bag containing one dozen 12-gauge shotgun shells. People in the home said the shotgun and duffle bag belonged to Oson, according to the affidavit.

Days after Romano’s death, Schell’s cellphone records show him discussing the shooting, court records state.

On Friday, Judge Scott Collier granted the prosecution’s request to set bail for Schell and Oson at $1 million each.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Kristine Foerster said Schell has 17 felony convictions, seven prior warrants and was on warrant status when he was picked up. Oson has 14 felony convictions, she said, in addition to his pending assault case.

Both men will be arraigned July 20.

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