Teen murder suspect taken into custody

GEORGE — Teen murder suspect Noel Cardenas was taken into custody on Sunday near George.

Cardenas, 17, of Quincy, was reportedly located in a vehicle on state Route 281, north of George, about 3:15 p.m. Cardenas, who is accused of shooting and killing 17-year-old Jahleel Munnings Feb. 25 in Quincy, has already been charged as an adult with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and drive-by-shooting by prosecutors in Grant County Superior Court.

Court records indicate Cardenas shot and killed Munnings because he believed the victim had previously broken into his residence. Cardenas allegedly also shot and wounded and 20-year-old Luis Nava Trujillo.

“The Quincy Police Department would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation, “ stated the QPD in a release. “Cardenas is currently lodged in the Grant County Jail in Ephrata.”

Cardenas is expected to appear in court sometime this week for his first appearance.

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