In the quiet farming community of Toppenish, Washington, a tragic event unfolded on the morning of November 16, 2019, ending the life of 42-year-old Ryan Edward Ashlock, a White male. On that Saturday, just a day after his birthday, deputies from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Yakama Nation Police were dispatched to the area of McKinley and Branch Roads following a report of a shooting. There, they discovered Ryan inside his pickup truck, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite the efforts of emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the death of the Toppenish High School alumnus quickly focused on a primary suspect. In a harrowing final act, Ryan Ashlock had managed to call 911 after being shot, identifying his own son as the assailant before he lost consciousness. This crucial piece of information led law enforcement to search the immediate vicinity for the person named in the call.
Approximately a third of a mile from the scene of the shooting, officers located 20-year-old Anthony Ashlock walking along the road. He was taken into custody without incident and subsequently arrested. Anthony Ashlock was later charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his father. The community was left to grapple with the shocking nature of the crime, as a son stood accused of fatally shooting his own father.
