Arrest made in fatal shooting late Monday night

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County’s Sheriff’s Office arrested a man in the Monday shooting death of an Ephrata man.

The sheriff’s reports that Jesse R. James, 23, of Moses Lake, was arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail for unlawful possession of a firearm and evidence tampering. More charges may be added pending the completion of the investigation into the death of Thomas Hernandez, 21, of Ephrata.

James’ arrest stems from an incident late Monday night, when a woman contacted police about 11 a.m. stating she heard a loud noise inside her home in the 8700 block of Neppel Road Northeast. The woman told police she went into her living room to investigate the noise and found Hernandez on her living room floor.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and attempted life saving measures on Hernandez, who reportedly received a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives interviewed the woman who contacted police and her adult son, who were the only occupants of the home at the time of the initial report, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office has not specified the connection between James and Hernandez.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.