$1 million arrest warrant issued for shooting suspect

MOSES LAKE — A $1 million arrest warrant has been issued for 23-year-old Anthony R. Vasquez, suspected of killing a Moses Lake man Tuesday night at a convenience store near Moses Lake.

Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee filed charges Thursday of first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm against Vasquez.

About 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, Grant County sheriff’s deputies responded to shots fired at the Airport Grocery Mart on Patton Boulevard. When on scene, they found Juan Jesus Garcia, 22, in the passenger seat of a 1999 GMC Envoy, dead from a gunshot wound to the face.

According to court documents, Garcia had gone into the Airport Grocery Mart on Patton Boulevard before returning to a vehicle parked outside. Sitting in the passenger seat, Garcia told the 23-year-old female driver to start driving when Vasquez allegedly walked to the passenger side of the vehicle, pointed a shotgun through an open window and shot Garcia one time.

The female in the vehicle told police Vasquez fled on foot north on Patton Boulevard before he hopped into a blue pickup with a canopy and left.

The woman was able to identify Vasquez “in a matter of seconds” from photos shown to her by deputies, according to police reports.

The woman and her 6-year-old son, sitting in the back seat of the SUV, were physically uninjured in the incident.

Garcia and the woman had reportedly seen Vasquez earlier in the day Tuesday in the Larson Housing Area and “glances” were exchanged.

According to the police report, both Vasquez and Garcia are known gang members.

Anyone with information on the shooting or know where Vasquez is are asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 509-762-1160 or send a tip to crimetips@co.grant.wa.us. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

For the full story, read Friday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald.