MLPD announces arrests in investigation of Nov. 12 homicide
Washington State Patrol Crime Lab technicians examine evidence on the scene of a drive-by shooting that happened in the afternoon of Sunday, November 12. Multiple arrests have been made in the case.
FILE PHOTO
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police Chief Dave Sands issued a statement Friday indicating that multiple arrests had been made in the investigation of a Nov. 12 drive-by shooting that led to the death of one man and multiple others being injured.
“On November 16th at about 5:00 p.m., MLPD detectives and the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team served a warrant in the 600 block of Russell (Avenue) related to the ongoing homicide investigation from the November 12th shooting in the Montlake area,” Sands said in the release.
Three young men were arrested as was an unidentified 17-year-old minor, the statement said. Juan M. Gonzalez, 20, of Moses Lake was booked into the Grant County Jail for rendering criminal assistance in the first degree and intimidating a witness. Eduard Avalos, 19, of Moses Lake, is facing a charge of criminal assistance in the first degree, and Jorge Barcenas-Lozano, 19, also of Moses Lake, was also jailed on a count of criminal assistance in the first degree.
An unidentified 17-year-old Moses Lake resident was booked into the Chelan County Juvenile Detention Center and is facing charges of first-degree murder, two counts of assault in the first degree, drive-by shooting and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree.
Gonzalez and Barcenas-Lozano were still listed on the jail’s inmate roster as of Saturday afternoon. Avalos was no longer listed as an inmate.
The shooting happened just before 3 p.m. Nov. 12 in the 400 block of Linden Avenue, near the Linden Boat Launch and Montlake Park, according to prior statements from MLPD. Officers responded to the scene and found three people with gunshot wounds who were in or near a small Honda. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene and two others were transported to Samaritan Hospital for treatment. One of those patients was later flown to another out-of-area hospital for care.
Officers followed up on witness statements and video from the area to determine a silver Nissan Murano was likely used in the shooting. The vehicle was tracked via automated license plate readers and officers were able to recover the vehicle.
During the investigation, officers found reason to surveil a residence in the 9800 block of Maple Drive in Moses Lake on Tuesday, Nov. 14, and the brother of the prime suspect was found and questioned. That lead to additional information and the eventual arrest of another 17-year-old after officers stopped him as he reportedly attempted to flee.
Sands expressed appreciation for partnering agencies in the initial response and investigation of the incident including the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, INET, the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team — which is comprised of members from GCSO, the Quincy Police Department, Othello PD, Adams County Sheriff’s Office and MLPD officers.
“Detectives continue to work tirelessly on this case to ensure justice for all the victims and their families,” Sands said.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact MLPD at 509-762-1160 and reference case 23ML17790.