Two men arrested for Vasquez murder

MOSES LAKE — Cesar Isamel Ramos DeLaCruz, 27, Bell, Calif., and Frankie Mahto Larioz, 19, Moses Lake, were arrested for the murder of 19 year-old Juan “Pooky” Vasquez.

DeLaCruz was arrested by detectives with assistance by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, according to Grant County Undersheriff John Turley.

DeLaCruz was charged with murder in the first degree in Grant County Superior Court with bail set at $1 million prior to his arrest. He is in custody and will be transported to Ephrata, Turley said.

Larioz surrendered when police arrived at his home on Friday afternoon.

DeLaCruz was allegedly seeking money owed to him by one of Vasquez’s friends, according to Turley. Both men were in separate cars when they met at the intersection of Doolittle Drive and Vandenberg Loop on June 16. Vasquez fled before DeLaCruz reportedly fired three rounds from a .357 Magnum, hitting Vasquez once in the back and once in the thigh.

Vasqez lost control driving toward Patton Boulvard, where he struck a passing Ford Bronco. He was removed from the car nearly unconsciouness, Turley said. He was transported to Samaritan Healthcare where he died from his wounds.

— Staff report