Amazon Employee Shoots Coworker to Death

Gilbert Matthew Lopez Jr. appears in Franklin County Superior Court on Oct. 23, 2025. Franklin County Superior Court

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Amazon employee Gilbert M. Lopez, 21, has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of another Amazon employee over “drama” in Pasco, Washington, according to the Tri-City Herald.

What Happened

Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 18-year-old Javier Adrian Romero planned to meet up with Gilbert M. Lopez for a fistfight to settle a dispute. Romero had agreed to fight Lopez at 7 am on East Hillsboro Street off Highway 395 after Lopez allegedly “insulted” a friend of Romero’s.

According to court documents, when Lopez pulled up, Romero walked to Lopez’s truck. Witnesses told investigators that’s when the door opened and Lopez fired twice, killing Romero.

It all started a few days prior and involved three men, including Lopez and Romero. Allegedly, Romero overheard Lopez talking badly about one of Romero’s friends in the bathroom at work. This started an argument.

Officer Alexander Mino-Ramirez said in an affidavit, “Javier and Gilbert agreed to fight. Javier challenged Gilbert to a fight in the parking lot, and Gilbert told him to meet him at the gas station.”

They agreed to fight on their lunch break on the date in question. Lopez arrived first at the gas station, along with a friend, and parked and waited.

The two went inside the gas station and got lunch. Then, they waited for Romero near the gas pumps. Romero’s friend had spotted the two and called Romero to let him know.

Lopez and his friend saw Romero arrive and walk towards Lopez’s truck. Lopez’s friend says that’s when he saw Lopez holding a gun behind the door. When the door opened, Romero allegedly shot twice.

Romero immediately collapsed to the ground, and Lopez went to the Franklin County Courthouse, where he called 911. He told dispatchers he had shot a coworker who had “tried to run in (Lopez’s) car.”

Lopez was told to go to the police station, where he refused to talk without an attorney.

The Aftermath

Lopez appeared in court on Thursday, and the judge set his bail at $1 million on the charge of second-degree murder for the shooting. He is currently in the Franklin County Jail. He’ll have his next court appearance on Tuesday to determine if he’ll be appointed a public defender.

Romero’s family has started a GoFundMe to pay for funeral expenses.

The Takeaway

Amazon employee Gilbert Matthew Lopez Jr allegedly shot Javier Romero to death in Pasco, Washington Wednesday. The dispute allegedly started after Romero overheard Lopez badmouthing a friend. Lopez is being held on a $1 million bond in the Franklin County Jail. His next court date is Tuesday to determine if he will be appointed a public defender.

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