Killed teenager identified

DESERT AIRE — The teen shot in Desert Aire was identified Tuesday as Michael Flores, 17, of Ephrata.

Grant County Coroner Jerry Jasman confirmed Flores died from a single gunshot wound to the head after a Tuesday morning autopsy was completed.

No arrests were made in connection to the shooting.

A 22-year-old Ephrata man and a juvenile were held as material witnesses to homicide but were later released.

Grant County Undersheriff John Turley said the two suspects were originally held because they were identified by witnesses, who placed them at the fight and allegedly had blood on their clothes.

Turley said once they were taken into custody, Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antoz decided they were not a flight risk and allowed them to leave the jail.

A Mattawa police office found Flores’ body dumped on Riverview Street in Mattawa Saturday morning.

Apparently the teen was involved in a gang-related fight in Desert Aire at the intersection of Desert Aire Drive and Thunderbird Way, Turley said. He was transported from the fight and dumped in Mattawa, roughly four miles away.

During the fight, several shots were fired.

Minutes after the fight, a 1998 Cadillac Coupe de Ville crashed, he said. Two males involved in the gang fight were located inside the vehicle.

Three vehicles were impounded and search warrants are being executed Thursday in an attempt to locate evidence, Turley said.

Anyone with information about the incident, is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 509-754-2011, ext. 468.