Pub homicide trial pushed out three weeks

EPHRATA — A man who allegedly shot and killed a bystander in Moses Lake over a year and a half ago will have to wait at least three more weeks until his case is heard by a Grant County judge.

Ismael Ortiz Jr., of Moses Lake, is accused of shooting and killing 68-year-old Robert Cook outside of a Moses Lake bar in June 2016. Charges have been filed against Ortiz for first-degree murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Ortiz previously chose to have his case heard by a Grant County judge and have a bench trial, as opposed to a jury trial. The case was set to be heard by Judge John Knodell in December, but the case was delayed after a material witness allegedly gave prosecutors a statement that was different from the original statement he gave to police investigators.

The information came as news to Ortiz and his defense attorney and they advised the new information gave Ortiz second thoughts about his decision to have a bench trial. Ortiz ultimately decided to continue with the bench trial and his trial date was pushed out to Dec. 13. The state wasn’t able to coordinate the schedules of all their witnesses and the trial date was reset for today. The trial date was pushed out again this week to Jan. 24 after the state advised they are still having problems coordinating with witnesses.

Ortiz stands accused of shooting and killing Cook outside of Neppel’s Dockside Pub – since renamed Midway Pub and under new ownership and management – following a scuffle inside of the bar. Ortiz and a man he was with got into an altercation inside the bar with other male, which resulted in all three men getting tossed.

Prosecutors believe Ortiz was shooting at the male he fought with inside the bar, who reportedly rode away from the scene in the passenger seat of a four-door vehicle, and accidentally shot Cook, who was leaving the bar in a truck with a female friend. Cook’s wounds were fatal.

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