Idaho man who shot, killed partygoer sentenced to 25 years

PORTLAND – An Idaho man who fatally shot a father of three at a party on the Umatilla Indian Reservation has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Prosecutors say Julian Simpson was heard saying “Let’s blast these fools” shortly before shooting Antonio “Tony” Jimenez Jr., in the head with a semi-automatic pistol.

A friend of Simpson’s, Victor Contreras, fired more than 20 rounds, injuring a man. The men fired shortly after being asked to leave the home on March 19, 2016.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Simpson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last fall. The case was prosecuted in federal court because the shooting occurred on reservation land.

Simpson had been living in Lewiston, Idaho, at the time. He is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation – located in northeastern Oregon.

Contreras pleaded guilty to charges last year and will be sentenced next month.