Murder of Preble High School Student over THC Vape Cartridges, Police Say - Formal Charges Filed

Homicide of Federico Abarca, Preble High School Student, Over THC Vape Cartridges

Updated 3/14/2019 - Jared Williquette waived his Preliminary Hearing this morning in Brown County Circuit Court and has been bound over for trial. The 21-year-old Pound resident is being charged with 1st Degree Reckless Homicide - Party to a Crime. The defendant appeared in court and there have been discussions with Prosecutors regarding possible plea agreements, but those have not resulted in any agreement/resolutions. He will have his Arraignment on April 8, 2019.

Updated 3/6/2019 - Formal charges were filed today in Brown County Circuit Court against the four suspects in the murder of 18-year-old Federico Abarca.

Colton Kehoe is being charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, 1st Degree Reckless Homicide - Party to a Crime, and Conspiracy to Commit Resisting or Obstructing an Officer. Case 19CF299.

Gavin Rock is being charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, 1st Degree Reckless Homicide - Party to a Crime, Conspiracy to Commit Resisting or Obstructing an Officer, and Misdemeanor Bail Jumping. Case 19CF300.

Jarid Stevens is being charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, 1st Degree Reckless Homicide - Party to a Crime, and Conspiracy to Commit Resisting or Obstructing an Officer. Case 19CF301.

Jared Williquette is being charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, 1st Degree Reckless Homicide - Party to a Crime, Conspiracy to Commit Resisting or Obstructing an Officer, and Misdemeanor Bail Jumping. Case 19CF302.

Green Bay, WI - On Friday, February 22, 2019, 18-year-old Federico Abarca was gunned down in the parking lot of his apartment complex in the 2300 block of Preble Ave. When officers arrived on scene, they found Fed in the parking lot with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

On Saturday, February 23, the Green Bay Police Department confirmed that 4 suspects were taken into custody. They made their initial appearance in Brown County Circuit Court this afternoon. 

The murder was allegedly the result of a drug deal that was set up by Gavin Rock through Snapchat. It was set up that the suspects were there to pick up 4 THC vape cartridges from the victim. En route to Green Bay, Jared Williquette reportedly showed the others in the vehicle that he had a firearm in his possession, stating, "If stuff goes down, I will use this." They met up with Abarca at his apartment, where the victim got into the vehicle with the suspects. Police say they tried to rob Abarca and during the course of the robbery, Williquette fired one round, striking Federico in the chest.

Detectives were able to link the four suspects together after a tip led to one of the suspect's names. On Saturday afternoon, a traffic stop was conducted and two of the suspects were brought in for questioning. From those two individuals, police were able to obtain information on the location of the other two involved. Officers then went to a residence in Oconto where they were able to recover the vehicle used in the crime, the firearm, and take into custody the two remaining suspects.

Prosecutors say Jarid Stevens, 20, was the driver of the vehicle. He is being held on a $500,000 Cash Bond. Colton Kehoe, 18, Jared Williquette, 21, and Gavin Rock, 17, are all also being held on a $500,000 Cash Bond. They are due back in court on March 6.