Guns, cocaine paraphernalia seized in drive-by investigation
Thirteen weapons were seized along with other evidence as investigators dig into two drive-by shootings that occurred in Moses Lake in late March.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/MLPD
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department announced the successful execution of search warrants that resulted in officers confiscating 13 firearms and evidence of cocaine sales at a home in the 200 block of W. Knolls Vista Drive. The search was associated with the second of two drive-by shootings in Moses Lake in less than two weeks.
MLPD Captain Jeff Sursely said the two shootings have been determined by investigators to be related in that the second shooting was likely in retaliation for the first.
“It was the Norteños doing the shooting on Loop, and Sureños on Olympic,” Sursely said in response to questions from the Columbia Basin Herald.
The first shooting occurred March 21 and resulted in the death of a 14-year-old Frontier Middle School student and the wounding of four others, including a 17-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy as well as the fiancée of an MLPD detective.
The first shooting led to the arrest of a 14-year-old Mattawa boy who was booked into juvenile detention and faces a charge of first-degree murder, among others. He was caught after seeking medical assistance for an accidentally self-inflicted gunshot wound during the shooting. Two other men, Jose Beltran-Rodriguez, 20, and Matthew Valdez, 18 – both of Moses Lake – were arrested after the U.S. Marshals began a manhunt for them in association with the case. They also face a variety of charges that include first-degree murder. Both had fled the Columbia Basin, Valdez to Oregon and Beltran-Rodriguez to California. The two adults are believed to be members of the Norteños, investigators said.
“The swift identification and arrest of multiple fugitives in this case demonstrates the strength of the U.S. Marshals Service’s proactive manhunt strategy,” said Craig Thayer, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Washington when Beltran-Rodriguez and Valdez were arrested. “By leveraging cutting-edge investigative tools, intelligence analysis, and close partnerships with our law enforcement partners, we ensure that violent criminals are swiftly brought to justice.”
The second drive-by shooting on March 29 is believed to have been retaliation for the March 21 incident, Sursely said.
“Anytime there is any kind of gang-related activity, we do see a spike, and then it kind of drops off,” Sursely said.
The second shooting occurred in the 9800 block of Olympic Drive NE, according to a Wednesday press release from MLPD. Multiple shell casings were found in the street and while nobody was injured in the shooting, five people were asleep in the residence when the shooting occurred. One round came within a meter of a sleeping 19-year-old and a one-year-old infant. A vehicle was quickly identified as possibly having been used in the shooting and was located at a home in the 200 block of W. Knolls Vista Drive. The Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team served a warrant on the residence.
During the search, detectives found the firearms and cocaine trafficking evidence. The firearms included multiple weapons matching the caliber used in the most recent of the two shootings and those were seized for testing as evidence. One of the weapons was confirmed as being stolen from North Bend, Washington. Two juvenile minors and one adult were booked into jail for five counts of Assault in the First Degree and Drive-by Shooting. With the types of weapons that were confiscated, including handguns and all three suspects being under the age of 21, a requirement in Washington to own a pistol and certain other weapons, Sursely said it is likely that Unlawful Possession of a Firearm will be added to the list of charges the suspects face.
Sursely said stolen weapons are found to be involved in crimes on a notable basis and people can protect themselves from firearm theft and prevent criminals from getting access to weapons.
“Don’t carry (guns) in your car and leave them unattended. Probably the two most frequently stolen guns are people who leave them in their car, unattended, and (the guns) get stolen during a vehicle break-in or a burglary, where they’re left unsecured in a house,” Sursely said.
Keeping firearms in a gun safe is a recommended best practice, he said.
Given that multiple suspects in these two cases are minors who have likely gotten involved in gangs, Sursely said parents should remain engaged with their children to help them avoid making poor choices.
“Tips would be (to) make sure you know who your children’s friends are and what they are doing. Keep tabs on what is interesting your children and keep them involved in activities that are physical and mental such as sports, arts and academics,” Sursely said.