In the late afternoon of May 24, 2021, a burst of violence shattered the quiet of a Moses Lake, Washington neighborhood, leaving a teenager dead and another wounded. Sixteen-year-old Gavin Hayes, a male from the nearby town of Quincy, was fatally struck by a gunshot to the chest. The incident unfolded around 4:30 p.m. at a residence located in the 300 block of South Gibby Road.
Responding officers from the Moses Lake Police Department arrived to a chaotic scene and immediately began administering first aid to the fallen teenager, but his injuries proved too severe, and he died at the scene.
Alongside Gavin, an 18-year-old male from Moses Lake also sustained injuries during the shooting and was transported to Samaritan Hospital for medical attention. The Grant County Coroner later conducted an autopsy and officially ruled Gavin's death a homicide. Investigators believe the shooting was gang-related, adding a somber layer to the tragic loss of a young life.
Detectives processing the scene determined that at least ten rounds had been fired from the vicinity of a residence on Lee Street, near the home on South Gibby Road where Gavin was killed. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, police detained one individual who was described as uncooperative, but this person was later released. A search warrant was executed on the property from which the shots were believed to have been fired as authorities continued to gather evidence.
In the days that followed, the Moses Lake Police Department continued to investigate the homicide, urging anyone with information to come forward. However, no immediate arrests were made in connection with the shooting. The investigation into the death of Gavin Hayes remains ongoing as police continue to seek justice for the teenager whose life was cut short by a senseless act of violence.
