In the late summer of 2023, a violent incident shattered the peace in a Moses Lake, Washington neighborhood, leading to the tragic death of a Hispanic/Latino male. Jeremy Flores, a 36-year-old resident of Moses Lake, was fatally shot on the evening of Sunday, August 13th. The shooting, which occurred in the 800 block of Loop Drive, also resulted in injuries to two other individuals, a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old, though their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Flores, however, succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
The Moses Lake Police Department immediately launched an investigation into what they described as a gang-related, drive-by shooting. Investigators, with assistance from the Washington State Patrol's Crime Lab, processed a significant amount of forensic evidence from the scene, recovering over fifty shell casings. For a month, detectives diligently worked the case, piecing together the events of that fatal evening. Their efforts culminated in the issuance of arrest warrants on September 14, 2023.
A coordinated effort over the next two days, involving the Moses Lake Police Department, U.S. Marshals, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other local task forces, led to the apprehension of five suspects across multiple jurisdictions. The individuals taken into custody included two adults and three juveniles. Anthony N. Cruz, 19, of Moses Lake, and Ramon V. Mendoza, 31, of Warden, were among those arrested. The other suspects were a 13-year-old from Moses Lake and two 15-year-olds from East Wenatchee and an unincorporated area of Douglas County. The adult suspects, Cruz and Mendoza, are facing serious charges, including second-degree murder, drive-by shooting, and multiple counts of assault. Bail for the adult suspects was set at one million dollars each, while the juveniles' bonds ranged from $500,000 to $750,000.
