What began as a minor argument inside a downtown Yakima bar turned deadly just hours later, leaving one man dead and another in handcuffs before sunrise. **Alejandro Hernandez Baez**, 28, was struck and killed by a vehicle early Saturday morning in what police are now calling a **homicide**. Officers were dispatched to the **200 block of South Second Street** around **1:40 a.m.**, where they found Baez lying in a parking lot with severe injuries. Despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly learned that the tragedy had roots in an earlier confrontation between Baez and a **29-year-old man** inside a nearby bar. Witnesses reported that the two men exchanged heated words before the other man stormed out and drove away. Police believe that at some point after the argument, the suspect returned or encountered Baez again outside, where the fatal incident occurred.
Detectives from the **Yakima Police Department Major Crimes Unit** reviewed surveillance footage and collected witness statements throughout the night. Their work led to the arrest of the 29-year-old suspect, who was taken into custody without incident and is now facing charges related to vehicular homicide.
The exact motive behind the conflict remains under investigation, though police say alcohol may have been a factor. The bar and surrounding businesses have been cooperating fully as detectives piece together the final moments leading to Baez’s death.
Friends and family of Alejandro Hernandez Baez describe him as a hardworking, kind-hearted young man who had a bright future ahead. His death has left his loved ones heartbroken and the Yakima community reeling. A makeshift memorial has already begun forming in the parking lot where he lost his life — a painful reminder of how quickly anger can turn to tragedy.
