Murder suspect caught

EPHRATA - Murder suspect Gilberto Valdovinos Medina was arrested while trying to enter Mexico on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old Moses Lake man was charged with murder in the first degree in Grant County Superior Court.

A bench warrant was issued for his arrest with bail set at $1 million.

Federal agents arrested Valdovinos Medina at the border crossing in San Ysidro, Calif., according to Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones.

"The public is now safer because this murder suspect has been taken off the street," Jones stated.

Valdovinos Medina is charged with shooting Joaquin O. Serrano, 23, Moses Lake.

Witnesses told police Serrano and Valdovinos Medina allegedly sold heroin in Moses Lake, with Serrano buying the drugs from his fellow gang member and selling it at the same price, according to a Grant County sheriff's report. Serrano reportedly started buying drugs from Yakima and selling them for less than Valdovinos Medina.

Serrano allegedly told a friend he was worried something was going to happen because Valdovinos Medina was upset, according to the police report. Valdovinos Medina reportedly told Serrano, "This was his town and he sets prices."

Valdovinos Medina reportedly was driven to Serrano's Sun Drive residence, where he shot the man, according to the police report. He and the driver returned home, and reportedly started speaking with neighbors. Valdovinos Medina allegedly bragged about the shooting, showing one of the people a .45 caliber handgun. 

Grant County sheriff's deputies responded to reports of shots being fired near Serrano's house on Sun Drive at 3 a.m., according to a police report. The deputies reported they didn't find anything when they responded to the area.

One of Serrano's neighbors contacted police the next afternoon, saying the man wasn't answering the door and the house was shot up, according to the police report. Police arrived at the scene and found bullet holes in the door and windows. They entered the residence through the back door, and found Serrano dead in his living room. Investigators believe he was sitting in a reclining love seat when he was shot.

Police recovered 11 .45 caliber shell casings from the scene, according to the police report. 

Witnesses reported seeing a maroon or dark purple SUV driving away from the scene, according to the police report. Investigators discovered a video showing a Chevrolet Tahoe driving away from the residence, and reportedly traced the vehicle to the driver.