Mattawa drive-by shooter sentenced

EPHRATA - The second shooter in a 2010 drive-by killing will serve more than 15 years in prison.

Luis A. Mejia Nunez, 21, Mattawa, pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree in January for the gang-related shooting of 17-year-old Carlos Leyva.

Prosecutor Angus Lee said in a previous interview the original charge of murder in the first degree was lessened so prosecutors could get a conviction. The only direct evidence the prosecutors could use was statements from other people in the car, and no guns were recovered and the surviving victims weren't willing to cooperate.

Mejia Nunez had one prior conviction for assault in the third degree which, when combined with the present conviction, led to a sentencing range of 11 years and two months to 19 years and six months, according to court records. Prosecutors recommended 14 years and two months.

Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline added more than a year to the recommendation, sentencing Mejia Nunez to 15 years and four months.

"At (the) sentencing the defense argued that this killing was in retaliation for numerous drive-by shootings on the Mejia Nunez home by area ... gang members," according to the prosecutor's office. "Lee argued that this was not the convict's first felony conviction and he killed an unarmed teen and has shown no remorse."

Mejia Nunez said he regretted the crime and wanted to get on with his life, according to the prosecutor's office.

Mejia Nunez and Sergio C. Corrales, 16, Mattawa, were riding in the back seat of a car, when they passed three members of a rival gang walking on Road T.5 Southwest. As the car passed the group, one of the occupants "flipped them off or did some other hand gesture," according to the Grant County sheriff's report.

They returned about 10 minutes later and Mejia Nunez and Corrales fired from the rear windows, striking and killing Leyva. An 18-year-old man was also struck in the ankle and transported to Samaritan Healthcare.

Corrales pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree for the shooting, and was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.

Martin O. Ramos, 41, Royal City, was the driver of the car, and pleaded guilty to rendering criminal assistance in the first degree.