On a crisp autumn afternoon in Moses Lake, Washington, the life of 22-year-old Hispanic male, Jose M. Pichardo, was tragically cut short. The date was October 31, 2014, and what began as a routine day ended in violence that would leave a community shaken and a family grieving. Pichardo had spent his lunch break with his mother, a final, cherished memory before he headed back to work.
As he drove along Valley Road, the ordinary sounds of the day were shattered by the report of a gunshot.
Struck by the bullet, Pichardo lost control of his vehicle, which then careened off the road and crashed into a nearby home. Inside the residence, a mother and her young child were miraculously unharmed, but for Pichardo, it was a fatal blow. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene, his life stolen in a senseless act of violence.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified a prime suspect: 22-year-old Luis A. Suarez Galvan. Authorities in Grant County Superior Court charged Galvan with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and a drive-by shooting. Despite numerous attempts by the Moses Lake Police Department to apprehend him, Galvan has managed to evade capture. It is believed that he has received assistance from friends to remain on the run.
Over the years, there have been reported sightings of Galvan in the Grant County and Yakima areas, but he has remained elusive. The Moses Lake Police Department has a nationwide warrant for his arrest and has publicly released his photograph, noting that he has the words "Respect" and "Loyalty" tattooed on his forearms. The search for Luis A. Suarez Galvan continues, as does the wait for justice for Jose M. Pichardo and his family.
