Valenzuela Navarro extradition progressing

QUINCY - The extradition process for Gerardo Valenzuela Navarro is moving forward.

Valenzuela Navarro, 19, is charged with second-degree murder in the September shooting of Ramiro Munoz Jr. He was caught in early July by U.S. Marshals in North Carolina and is awaiting extradition.

"The mayor, the city administrator and myself, to try and help this process along, ... we drafted and all signed and sent a letter to the governor in hopes that the governor's office would assist the process in getting the governor's (warrant) from Washington state sent to North Carolina," Police Chief Richard Ackerman said.

The detective, Sal Mancini, met with other members of law enforcement about a week ago to continue the process of extraditing Valenzuela Navarro. Ackerman explained the process is meant to verify Valenzuela Navarro is wanted in connection to the crime.

"That information went to the governor's office, there's a section of the governor's office that handles extraditions ... it sounds like within the next few days, we hope, the governor's warrant from Washington state ... gets sent to North Carolina."

The North Carolina governor's office forwards the warrant to the correct county. Once it get to the county, officers have 10 days to get Valenzuela Navarro and transport him back to Ephrata.

Ackerman explained Valenzuela Navarro was fighting extradition

Valenzuela Navarro, Eddie Alvarez Hernandez, 21, of Quincy, and Erwin Vasquez, 20, of Quincy, are accused of murdering Munoz.

The shooting reportedly revolved around a man who was trying to cut his ties with a gang, according to a Quincy police report. The man was at the same family reunion on C Street as Munoz, when Vasquez, a gang member, approached the area and tried talking with him.

Several witnesses reported the man went to speak with Vasquez, according to the police report. Vasquez asked why the man wasn't spending time with the gang anymore. The witness told Vasquez he needed to leave because they were having a family reunion and could talk about it later.

About the same time, Munoz and another person approached Vasquez. They continued to tell Vasquez he needed to leave, according to the police report. Vasquez became angry, and started walking backwards before running away from the group.

The three men followed to make sure Vasquez left, according to the police report. After following for a while, Valenzuela Navarro and Alvarez Hernandez reportedly came out from a nearby house. Valenzuela Navarro allegedly fired two or three shots in the direction of the men.

Munoz reportedly responded by telling Valenzuela Navarro to not shoot because of the children behind him. Munoz challenged him to a fist fight, according to court records. Valenzuela Navarro allegedly fired another shot at Munoz, killing him.