Victim survives murder attempt
Two Moses Lake brothers arrested
EPHRATA - Two Moses Lake brothers with suspected gang ties are being held at the Grant County Jail for their alleged involvement in a man's shooting Wednesday near Upper Goose Lake.
The brothers, Jose Pedro Solis, 20, and Miguel Solis, Jr., 24, were arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, the Grant County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.
They were identified from a gang-related database at the Grant County Sheriff's Office and have gang associations, said Grant County Chief Deputy John Turley.
A third suspect is being held in Pasco on a felony warrant unrelated to the shooting. His name wasn't released because of the investigation. He was expected to be interviewed Thursday in Pasco and further information about his connection to the other suspects and any gang affiliation wasn't available, Turley said.
A man believed to be Hugo Estudio Fuentes, 30, residence unknown, was reportedly taken to the remote area to be killed for possibly being a "snitch," according to Turley.
Fuentes survived the shooting and was in stable condition Thursday at an undisclosed medical facility.
The information about the motive came from investigators and a material witness, Turley said.
"I haven't seen the word premeditated, but there's a material witness we have and information we have that indicates they planned this," Turley said.
He said he didn't know how Fuentes and Jose Solis and Miguel Solis were connected.
An injured Fuentes came across ranch workers about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday near Morgan Lake Road in Adams County and reportedly asked the workers for help.
Fuentes' location was not released Thursday because of possible retaliation, according to Turley. He had a bullet lodged in his upper neck near his spine.
It wasn't clear what type of bullet he was injured with.
But investigators recovered a .22 Magnum, spent casings of .38 Special rounds, .22 caliber casings and ammunition, Turley said. A Craig Street home near Moses Lake was searched and a vehicle seized during the investigation.
Jail records show Jose Solis was arrested at a Lowry Street address near Moses Lake. Miguel Solis was arrested at an Arnold Street address near Moses Lake.
The shooting is believed to have happened within U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife boundaries 20 miles south of Moses Lake.
Investigators worked for 13 hours Wednesday using some intelligence information gathered last year on gangs in the Columbia Basin, Turley said.
"The intelligence factor is worth its weight in gold and contributed to the arrests," he said.
The suspects were identified from their nicknames and tattoos. A witness was able to identity an assailant from a photo montage, Turley said.
Detectives from the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Adams County Sheriff's Office, Moses Lake Police Department and the Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team worked on the case.