Man held in alleged double murder

A Moses Lake man had his first appearance in Grant County Superior Court Monday afternoon and is being held on two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of two Moses Lake men Saturday at a home in the 8000 block of Road 18 Northeast, about 13 miles north of Moses Lake.

Noe Pena, 40, allegedly shot to death Epitacio Martinez-Molina, 52, and his brother, Moises Martinez-Molina, 37, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman.

Deputies were called to the home around 11:45 a.m. on a report of a man “walking around with a gun in his hand,” according to Foreman. They found Pena walking east on Road 18 Northeast, ordered him to drop the gun and he eventually did. He initially was taken into custody for allegedly being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A witness told deputies two bodies were inside the garage of the home at 8057 Road Northeast, where Pena was seen. Deputies found the two men’s bodies and Grant County Coroner confirmed their identities and cause of death.

No motive has been confirmed, but Foreman said evidence suggested they were all involved in a poker game.

Evidence collected includes shell casings and the firearm used in the alleged murders, which have been sent to the state crime lab for analysis.

Pena’s bail was set at $3 million. He remains in the Grant County Jail.