Benton Co. Sheriff's Office

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News Release

Benton County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Early Morning Shooting (Photo) -05/23/25

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is actively investigating a shooting that occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 17, 2025.

At approximately 5:30 a.m., the Corvallis Regional Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from a Corvallis resident in the area of Highway 99W and Lakeside Dr, reporting someone had been shot in a vehicle near that location.

The initial information is a woman described as a short Hispanic female with long hair, wearing a long sleeve black shirt, had shot a male in the vehicle.

The shooter is considered armed and was last seen running from the vehicle with another Hispanic female somewhere south of Lakeside Dr and north of the city of Monroe.  The female shooter and the other female have not been located at this time.

As a precaution, BCSO issued an emergency notification to residents in the immediate area, advising them to report any suspicious activity immediately. The public is cautioned not to pick up hitchhikers in the area.

First responders from the Corvallis Fire Department transported the male victim to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. He is currently being treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Benton County Sheriff’s Office personnel continue to investigate this incident. Future updates may be provided as they become available.

Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office at BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov. Those wishing to remain anonymous can submit tips by calling 541-753-8477(TIPS).

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BCSO Identifies Suspects In May 17 Shooting (Photo) -05/23/25

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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Both Suspects In May 17 Shooting Now In Custody (Photo) -05/23/25

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) has taken both suspects into custody in connection with the shooting incident that occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 17, 2025.

On May 20, BCSO Detectives located and arrested 20-year-old Julia Dell Yepez, of Salem. This evening, May 22, 20-year-old Alexa Montano Corral, of Salem, has also been taken into custody. Both women are being held in connection with multiple charges stemming from the incident.

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 similar criminal activity.

If you have had contact with either of these individuals for the sake of online dating 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 is recovering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

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.

BCSO would like to thank the Salem Police Department, 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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BCSO Investigation Of May 17 Shooting Ongoing – No New Updates At This Time (Photo) -05/19/25

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.

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

Initial information indicated that a woman, described as 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, somewhere south of Lakeside Dr. and north of the city of Monroe. Both individuals have not yet been located, but investigators believe they have left the area.

As a precaution, an emergency notification was issued to residents in the area, advising them to remain alert and report any suspicious activity. The public was also cautioned not to pick up hitchhikers in the vicinity.

The male victim was transported by the Corvallis Fire Department to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, where he continues to receive treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

There are no new developments to report at this time. BCSO personnel continue to investigate the incident, and updates will be provided as they become available.

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

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office at BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov or submit tips anonymously by calling 541-573-8477 (TIPS).

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