Quincy drive-by shooter pleads guilty

EPHRATA - One of the men charged in the drive-by shooting death of Adan Beltran pleaded guilty to the crime.

Roberto Murillo Vera, 21, Wenatchee pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree in Grant County Superior Court, according to the Grant County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors initially charged Murillo Vera with murder in the second degree, drive-by shooting and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to court records. The charge against Murillo Vera along with codefendant Benjamin Lopez, 17, Quincy, was increased to first degree murder after the initial charges were filed.

Murillo Vera faces a sentencing range of 18 to 26 years in prison, according to the prosecutor's office. The trials for Benjamin and Abraham Lopez are presently set for Jan. 25.

The trial for Alexis Hernandez, 16, Quincy, is presently set for Feb. 8. Hernandez remains charged with murder in the second degree.

"Before entering into this agreement I consulted with the chief of the investigating agency and his lead detective on the case. Both were in agreement that this resolution was appropriate considering the acts of the individual as a driver and the strength of the facts of the case," Prosecutor Angus Lee stated.

Witnesses reportedly spotted the four people in a 1985 Oldsmobile, when the people in the car allegedly shot and killed 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.

The four people 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. A chase ended when officers used spike strips to stop the vehicle, according to the police report.

Murillo Vera fled the vehicle. Police chased and caught 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.

Both the victim and the defendants were members of rival gangs, according to the report.