On a late Friday evening in Moses Lake, Washington, a dispute over a seemingly trivial matter escalated into a fatal encounter for Juan Uel Gonzalez, a 38-year-old Hispanic male from Spokane. The events of September 4, 2015, unfolded at the College Apartments, where a confrontation over a missing Seattle Seahawks jersey and a music box would tragically cut his life short.
That evening, Gonzalez was confronted by Margarito Leyva, who was upset about the allegedly stolen items.
Witnesses reported that the two men engaged in a brief shoving match. During the argument, Leyva produced a handgun and pointed it at Gonzalez's face. Gonzalez challenged Leyva, suggesting that if he was going to pull a gun, he should be "man enough to pull the trigger too." In response, Leyva lowered the weapon and shot Gonzalez in the stomach.
Following the shooting, Gonzalez was taken to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake by a private vehicle before being transferred to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where he succumbed to his injuries the next morning. The shooting was not believed to be a random act.
The suspect, Margarito "Chiste" Leyva, and his girlfriend fled after the incident, managing to evade law enforcement for a couple of days. Their time on the run came to an end when deputies and a team of U.S. Marshals located them at a motel in Pasco.
Leyva was initially charged with first-degree murder, but the charge was later amended to second-degree murder as part of a plea agreement. In April 2017, Leyva pleaded guilty. During his sentencing, a letter from Leyva was read to the court in which he expressed remorse for the pain his actions had caused Gonzalez's family, stating, "One reckless decision has hurt so many people. I know there are no words that will help make up for your loss. But I am sorry for what your family has went through. If I could take it back I would." Gonzalez's mother also spoke at the sentencing, questioning Leyva's actions. She acknowledged her son's struggles but emphasized that the father of five had been trying to turn his life around for the sake of his children. Leyva was ultimately sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for the murder of Juan Gonzalez.
