PENDLETON – Shooting victim Jose Luis Resendez had a criminal history of violence, alcohol problems and numerous aliases. The man accused of murdering him may claim self defense.

Resendez’s former landlord, Pat Linn, said Resendez was a “nice guy” – despite the fact that he stiffed her for a month’s rent when moving out.

The shooting took place at Sunshine Court Apartments in Hermiston, which Linn manages, on April 9.

Reyes Benitez Mendoza, 28, has been charged with murdering Resendez, 35.

Mendoza was earlier reported as living at Sunshine Court, but Linn said that wasn’t true.

When asked for details about the shooting, she said police had told her not to say anything about the case.

Since 1998, Resendez was convicted in Umatilla County of assaulting a public safety officer in Hermiston, harassment, two counts of drunk driving, disorderly conduct, driving while suspended (both felony and misdemeanor), failure to perform the duties of a driver, open container of alcohol and providing false information to a police officer.

The Oregon Judicial Information Network case files also listed six known aliases for Resendez.

He and Mendoza apparently knew each other, said Umatilla County District Attorney Chris Brauer.

The murder shocked and unsettled the apartment complex, Linn said.

“We’ve been cleaning up this apartment complex really good, and this was not a good thing,” she said. “When we first moved here, there was a lot of drugs going on, and we got all those people out. No drugs or parties, so it was a family type atmosphere.”

Mendoza’s next court appearance is scheduled July 7.