Two men sought in connection with fatal drive-by shooting
Matthew Valdez and Jose Beltran-Rodriguez, both of Moses Lake, are being sought by authorities in connection with a drive-by shooting in which a 14-year-old Moses Lake boy was killed. The pair face several felony charges.
MOSES LAKE — Two Moses Lake men are being sought in connection with a drive-by shooting March 21 that left a 14-year-old Moses Lake boy dead.
Jose Beltran-Rodriguez, 20, and Matthew Valdez, 18, are wanted for first-degree murder and five counts of first-degree assault, drive-by shooting and being felons in possession of a firearm, wrote Moses Lake Police Department Captain Jeff Sursely in a press release.
The U.S. Marshal Service is working with MLPD to find the suspects, along with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Washington Department of Corrections, the U.S. Border Patrol and the FBI.
One suspect, a 14-year-old Mattawa boy, was arrested Monday in connection with the case. The boy was arrested after he went to Kadlec Hospital in Richland for treatment of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a press release from the U.S. Marshals.
In an earlier interview Sursely said he was not aware of any connection between the March 21 shooting and multiple incidents in the Mattawa area over the last six months.
The shooting occurred at about 9 p.m. March 21 on West Loop Drive in Moses Lake. Four other Moses Lake residents were in the car, including the driver Crystal Santoyo, 26, a 17-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy. All were injured. The survivors were subsequently treated at Samaritan Hospital and have been released.
Sursely said Santoyo is the fiancée of MLPD Detective Juan Serrato.
Officers found an abandoned vehicle believed to be related to the shooting and searched a home on North Buell Drive Saturday afternoon. Investigators impounded and searched the vehicle and searched the home after obtaining warrants for those actions.
“Detectives continue an around-the-clock investigation into the shooting and several search warrants have been issued and executed,” Sursely said in a prior statement regarding the case.
The U.S. Marshal Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 — $5,000 per fugitive — for information leading to the arrest of Beltran-Rodriguez and Valdez. The suspects are considered armed and dangerous. Tips may be called into the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 800-336-0102 or submitted online at www.usmarshals.gov/tips.
U.S. Marshals are working with MLPD, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Washington Department of Corrections, U.S. Border Patrol and the FBI to locate and apprehend the fugitives.
Grief resources:
Crisis Line (24 hours): 1-800-852-2923
Renew: 509-765-9239
Moses Lake Community Health: 509-765-0674
Confluence Health/Behavioral Health: 509-764-6400
Youth Dynamics: Will be open 3:30-5:30 p.m. daily for middle and high school students
NOTE: This story has been updated with additional information and resources for the victims and community.