Juveniles charged as adults in Quincy shooting

EPHRATA - Bail was set at $1 million for each person charged in a Quincy drive-by killing.

Robert Murillo Vera, 20, Wenatchee, Benjamin Lopez-Torres, 17, and Alexis Hernandez, 16, were each charged as being accomplices to murder in the second degree, drive-by shooting and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree in Grant County Superior Court.

Prosecutor Angus Lee explained the two juveniles were automatically charged as adults because of the nature of the crime.

"The 15-year-old suspect is currently charged as a juvenile, but we have already filed a motion with the court to have the suspect tried as an adult," he stated. "The court will hold a hearing in the near future to determine if adult prosecution is appropriate."

Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline set bail at $1 million for each of the defendants.

Witnesses reportedly spotted the four people in a blue 1985 Oldsmobile, when they shot and killed Adan Beltran, 25, outside of a D Street Southeast residence, according to a Quincy police report. One of the witnesses allegedly heard one or two shots, before running out and seeing Beltran falling.

They fled the scene, almost striking a vehicle on Fourth Avenue Southeast as they drove westbound out of an alley, according to the police report.

A Douglas County sheriff's deputy spotted the car on state Route 28. The suspect driver attempted to flee police, but the pursuit ended when the Washington State Patrol used spike strips to stop the vehicle, according to the police report.

Murillo-Vera reportedly fled the vehicle. Police allegedly chased the man, catching him about 100 yards off the road in a nearby orchard.

Police recovered two handguns, a .357 Magnum and a .25 caliber semi-automatic, from the scene, according to the report.

Hernandez reportedly admitted to being in the vehicle when the victim was shot, but didn't tell police who fired at Beltran.

Both the victim and the defendants were members of rival gangs.