Moses Lake teenager sentenced for friend's death

Shooting was ruled accidental

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake teen who pleaded guilty on March 4 in the accidental shooting death of his close friend was sentenced Monday as an adult to two and a half years in prison.

Ismael Ortiz Jr., 17, is also required to participate in community supervision as a result of shooting and killing Leonicio Garcia, 18.

The state Department of Corrections will determine how long community supervision will last, which will range from 18 to 36 months, said Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz.

Antosz said that the standard sentencing range of 26 to 34 months in prison for second-degree manslaughter "cannot adequately respond to the loss of this young man's life."

Antosz also said he was concerned about Ortiz's previous juvenile conviction for an offense involving a deadly weapon. Antosz added he would respect council's recommendation regarding sentencing.

Ortiz was arrested in November after accidentally shooting and killing his close friend Garcia, of Moses Lake.

Ortiz's case was brought to adult court, which is required by state law because of the serious nature of the crime.

Court documents state Ortiz was playing with a .22 caliber pistol at the Cascade Avenue home both teens lived at in Moses Lake. The gun went off and a bullet entered Garcia's chest.

Garcia later died from internal bleeding at Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane after being transferred from Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake.