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BCSO Identifies Suspects in May 17 Shooting (Photo)

May 23, 2025 in News

BCSO Identifies Suspects in May 17 Shooting (Photo)

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) continues to actively investigate the shooting incident that occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 17, 2025. Detectives have now identified the suspects involved and made one arrest.

On May 20, BCSO Detectives located and arrested 20-year-old Julia Dell Yepez, in Salem. Detectives are continuing to attempt to locate 20-year-old Alexa Montano Corral, who remains at large.

Yepez is currently in custody at the Benton County Jail, being held with $300,000 bail, charged with:

  • Attempted Murder
  • Assault I
  • Menacing
  • Unlawful Use of a Firearm
  • Reckless Endangering
  • Kidnapping II

Investigators believe the suspects used the Chispa dating app to lure the victim into meeting with the intent of stealing from him. Yepez and Corral are also suspects in a nearby county involving the same criminal activity.

If you have had contact with either of these individuals for the sake of online dating or know the whereabouts of Alexa Corral, please contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office at BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov or submit tips anonymously by calling 541-753-8477 (TIPS).

The male victim involved in the May 17 incident remains hospitalized as he recovers from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

As previously reported, at approximately 5:30 a.m. on May 17, the Corvallis Regional Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from a Corvallis resident in the area of Highway 99W and Lakeside Drive, reporting that someone had been shot in a vehicle near that location.

Initial reports indicated that a short Hispanic female with long hair and wearing a long-sleeve black shirt shot a male in the vehicle. She was last seen fleeing the scene on foot with another Hispanic female, heading south of Lakeside Drive and north of the City of Monroe. Investigators now believe both suspects initially left the area following the incident.

BCSO urges the public to exercise caution when meeting individuals from dating apps—always meet in public and never isolate yourself until you are certain of the other person’s intentions.

Again, BCSO would like to thank the Corvallis Police Department, Philomath Police Department, Corvallis Fire Department, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, and US Marshal’s Office for their assistance with this ongoing investigation.

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