Quincy man enters Alford plea

EPHRATA - Another man connected to the September 2011 shooting of Ramiro Munoz, Jr. is facing prison time.

Erwin Vazquez, 21, of Quincy, entered an Alford plea in Grant County Superior Court to rendering criminal assistance.

An Alford plea means that Vazquez didn't admit to committing the crime, but believes he would be found guilty if the case went to trial.

His original charge of second-degree murder was downgraded as part of the plea agreement.

Last March, 20-year-old Gerardo Valenzuela Navarro, of George, pled guilty to second-degree murder in connection to the same shooting. Valenzuela Navarro was sentenced to 18 years and four months in prison.

A third Quincy man, Eddie Alvarez Hernandez, 22, still remains charged with second-degree murder.

When sentenced, Vazquez faces a range of 1 year and 10 months to 2 years and 5 months.

According to court documents, the murder occurred after an argument at a family reunion in Quincy.

Vazquez reportedly confronted Munoz and asked him why he had stopped hanging out with the gang. Munoz was a former gang member who had been trying to curb gang activity in Quincy while trying to cut ties with his former gang.

According to witnesses, Vazquez was told to leave and he ran away. Reportedly, Munoz and two other men followed to ensure he was gone.

While the men pursued Vazquez, Valenzuela Navarro and Alvarez Hernandez allegedly emerged from a nearby house.

According to court documents, Valenzuela Navarro allegedly fired two or three shots at the men.

Munoz reportedly told Valenzuela Navarro to not shoot and challenged him to a fight instead.

Valenzuela Navarro allegedly fired one more shot at Munoz, killing him.