Silvas' bail set for attack on brothers

EPHRATA - Bail is $500,000 each for twin brothers Alfredo and Juan Silva, after charges were filed for their alleged attacks on another set of brothers.

Prosecutors charged Alfredo L. Silva, 18, Soap Lake, with murder in the second degree and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree, according to Grant County Superior Court records,

His brother, Juan D. Silva, 18, Soap Lake, was charged with murder in the second degree and assault in the first degree.

They are accused of murdering Luis Martinez, 18, Moses Lake, and stabbing his brother Efrian "Alex" Martinez, 19, Moses Lake, at a party in Soap Lake on July 29, according to court records.

The Martinezes and Luis' 18-year-old girlfriend were heading to a party along with several other people on Buttercup Street in Soap Lake when they first encountered Juan Silva walking near Sixth Avenue Southeast, according to a Moses Lake police report.

The group stopped to allegedly ask Juan Silva directions to Buttercup Street, according to the police report. Luis Martinez and Efrian Martinez reportedly started fighting with Juan Silva. Efrian Martinez and witnesses claim the brother and Juan Silva settled their differences and the group continued to the party.

Juan Silva was attending the same party and Alfredo Silva arrived about five minutes later, according to court records.

Alfredo Silva reportedly started asking Efrian Martinez whether he "jumped" his brother, but Efrian allegedly told Alfredo they had settled the matter. Alfredo Silva reportedly punched Efrian Martinez, according to court records.

Luis Martinez's girlfriend tried running for the back door, where a man reportedly stopped her and told her "they needed to watch this," according to the police report. When she turned, she allegedly saw Luis Martinez fighting with Alfredo Silva over a gun. The woman turned back, trying to leave, when she heard four or more gunshots. Three bullets hit Luis Martinez. He yelled for someone to call 9-1-1.

After the shooting, the woman saw Juan Silva approaching Luis and Efrian Martinez with a knife, according to the police report. She ran over, and reportedly started to use a choke-hold on Juan Silva, pulling him back as people at the party went outside following Efrian Martinez.

The woman claims Juan Silva punched her in the side of the head and the mouth, according to court records.

Luis Martinez was shot and stabbed.

Efrian Martinez was stabbed and treated at Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata.

The woman didn't need treatment.

Police discovered a 9 mm Beretta and three .45 caliber casings in the living room and a knife lying in the gravel in front of the house, according to the police report. No explanation for the difference in calibers was listed in the police report.

The investigation continues.

Alfredo Silva claimed gang membership on his Facebook page. Police did not disclose if the brothers or the victims were gang members in the initial report used to file felony charges against the Silvas.