Moses Lake man arrested in connection with alleged homicide

A Moses Lake man was arrested early Friday in connection with an alleged homicide Sept. 11, according to a Moses Lake Police Department release.

Juan Alberto Flores, 43, was taken into custody at 5 a.m. on suspicion of second-degree murder. He is accused of fatally shooting Radel P. Llamas Jr., 24, of Moses Lake, police said.

Llamas Jr. was found in his vehicle with a gunshot in his abdomen just before 3 p.m. Sept. 11 in the 1300 block of Marina Drive. He was taken to Samaritan Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

MLPD detectives, with the help of the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab, on Friday were searching Llamas Jr.’s vehicle, the release stated. Detectives also have contacted witnesses, gathered evidence and viewed surveillance video from nearby businesses since the homicide. Detectives established Flores was allegedly with Llamas just before the shooting and was seen leaving the area of the alleged crime right afterward, the release stated.

Detectives and Moses Lake Tactical Response Team members arrested Flores while he was arriving at work without issue. The vehicle he was driving the day of the alleged homicide was seized and the WSP Crime Lab is searching it. Detectives are still searching for the weapon used in the shooting.

No motive has been determined yet, but it doesn’t appear to be gang-related, the release stated.

Anyone with information on the shooting or who has spoken with Flores in the last week, can contact MLPD Detective Juan Serrato at 509-764-3887.