GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – An 18-year-old high school student is dead and four individuals have been arrested following a shooting on the city’s east side.
Green Bay Police was called to the 2300 block of Preble Avenue around 11 p.m. Friday for reports of shots fired.
“Officers arrived on scene and found an 18-year-old male in the parking lot of the apartment building,” says Commander Paul Ebel.
He was taken to the hospital where he later was pronounced dead.
That individual has been identified as student Federico A. Abarca.
“He was going to school at Preble High School,” explains Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith. “Very well liked there, got along with people very well there, truly, truly, a tragic situation.”
Detectives continued to search for evidence in front of the Green Bay apartment complex on Saturday.
Four suspects, Colton Kehoe, Gavin Rock, Jarid Stevens, and Jared Williquette, were taken into custody later on Saturday and appeared in court on Monday.
“These guys were in custody within just a few hours of this incident occurring,” says Chief Smith.
He goes on to describe the group’s relationship with one another and the victim.
“They’re all friends so they were all together that night in one vehicle,” says Chief Smith. “We believe they were coming down here to meet the victim, we believe at least one of these individuals was acquainted with the victim.”
According to Green Bay Police, a drug deal was set up by Rock with Abarca.
Prosecutors say Jarid Stevens drove the group of four to Abarca’s apartment with the intent to steal four vaping cartridges that contained THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana.
Williquette had a gun on-hand and shot Abarca in the chest, according to police.
At this time, no formal charges have been filed.
All four were issued a $500,000 cash bond and are set to return to court on March 6.
“We don’t believe that the public is in danger because of the relationship between the suspect and the victim,” says Ebel.
Friends of Abarca expressed their deep sadness and frustration on Monday as they gathered for the initial court appearance.
“It’s four people against one person, like how do you do that?” asks Ethan Sabillion, a friend of the victim. “Like how do you have the audacity to shoot someone when it’s four against one?”
This marks the second homicide in Green Bay this year alone after the city had just one homicide last year.
“Of course I’m very concerned about it, it’s really disturbing to have any homicide, let alone two in such a short period of time here in Green Bay,” says Chief Smith.
