LIVERMORE — After he allegedly shot and killed his longtime girlfriend and a man she was with inside a Livermore hotel, 30-year-old Yonston Vazquez reached out to members of one victim’s family to inform them where she was and attempt to justify his actions, authorities said.
Vazquez, suspected of killing Lizabeth Murillo-Rodriguez, 26, and Christopher Vera, 21, has reportedly told Murillo-Rodriguez’s family members that he found her inside a Livermore hotel room and that he and Vera struggled over a firearm, causing it to go off. Vazquez repeated this claim even as he continues to elude police, who announced two weeks ago that he was wanted for double murder.
But video and witness statements from the La Quinta Inn on Southfront Road in Livermore tell a different story, according to police. They say that Vazquez arrived at the hotel a little after 6:30 a.m. on April 27, and asked a clerk for a hotel key to Room 212, explaining to the clerk he was staying there and lost it. The clerk claimed Vazquez’s identification matched the last name of one of the listed occupants and handed the key over, authorities said.
A few moments later, gunshots rang out from Room 212.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows Vazquez attempting to push the door open with the key, only to learn it was locked with a chain or bar mechanism. Vazquez is then seen on the footage throwing his shoulder to the door, and when that fails, kicking it open, authorities said.
Gunfire was heard a few moments later, and the footage shows Vazquez then exiting and running to a nearby car, a firearm in his hand, police said.
Police have raided a residence in Stockton belonging to one of Vazquez’s family members in an attempt to find him, but thus far he has not turned up, according to authorities.
Anyone with knowledge of Vaquez’s whereabouts can call Livermore Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 925-371-4790.
