2 charged in connection with Moses Lake shooting

MOSES LAKE — A man and woman are facing charges in connection with a shooting that took place last week in Moses Lake.

Grant County prosecutors charged Damien Garza, 26, of Moses Lake, in Grant County Superior Court with drive-by shooting and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Garza’s alleged accomplice, Brooke Fike, 22, of Moses Lake, was charged with drive-by shooting – accomplice.

About 10:45 p.m. July 10 Moses Lake Police Department officers responded to South Hawthorne Drive after receiving a report of shots fired in the area. An eyewitness told police she observed a red Ford Fusion that was being followed by a silver minivan.

The Fusion reportedly turned onto East Plum Street and did a quick U-turn, went back to Hawthorne Drive and stopped south of the Plum Street intersection. The minivan allegedly pulled up next to the Fusion, with a person leaning out of the passenger side window and firing several shots. The victim attempted to run to a nearby residence and was fired upon at least one more time. The Fusion was hit several times by gunfire and the house the victim was running toward was struck at least once. The victim was not hit by gunfire.

The victim admitted to driving the vehicle, but claimed he didn’t know why he was being shot at and said he didn’t see the person who was firing. Garza and Fike fled the area after the shooting and the van was later found parked behind a residence in the 1200 block of South Skyline Drive.

Police were eventually able to get hold of the suspects via cellphone. Fike claimed they had dropped the minivan off at the residence and left for the Tacoma area to visit Garza’s family. Police contacted a subject who claimed to have later given Garza and Fike a ride to western Washington and said he dropped them by a “large mall.”

Police were further able to gain video evidence that shows an earlier confrontation between the intended victim of the shooting and the suspects at the Moses Lake Walmart. A criminal history check revealed Garza was previously convicted of first-degree manslaughter in 2010, has two convictions for second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm in 2010 and 2008, a conviction for third-degree assault in 2008 and currently has felony warrant out for his arrest for escape of community custody. Fike has no previous felony convictions.

Garza and Fike were still at large as of the Columbia Basin Herald’s press time on Monday. Warrants have been issued for their arrest.

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