Two Teen Suspects Arrested For Fatal Drive-By-Shooting
Yakima Police have arrested a 16-year-old from Yakima in connection with the October 28 fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Sebastian Suarez in the area of 20th Avenue and West Nob Hill Blvd.
The teen arrested Monday turned himself into police
Capt. Jay Seely says the teen turned himself into authorities Monday at the Yakima County Juvenile Justice Center. Luis Daniel Valencia is now being held on a charge of Second-Degree Murder.
On Friday police arrested the other suspect, a 14-year-old boy on a second-degree murder charge also in connection with the shooting of Suarez. Capt.Seely says Suarez was driving on South 20th Avenue with his girlfriend and brother in the vehicle when he stopped at at 20th and Nob Hill near the Pizza Hut restaurant. That's where police say Suarez jumped out of his vehicle and exchanged words with two teens walking in the area. A fight started and Capt. Seely says one of the teens then pulled out a gun and shot Suarez. The two suspects then fled the area. Both are now in custody facing murder charges.
The man shot on Saturday in downtown Yakima has been identified
Meanwhile police have identified a man shot in downtown Yakima on Saturday as 34-year-old Joey Cantu. Police say they believe Cantu was shot after he exchanged words with others in a gold Chrysler PT Cruiser before the shots were fired. No arrests have been made as that investigation continues Today. Both shootings are being investigated as the latest shootings in Yakima's ongoing gang war.
Two more arrests in another drive-by-shooting in Yakima in mid-October
Officers working in the Yakima Police Department Gang Unit have been busy with a rash of shootings over the last two months as rival gangs battle on the streets of the city. Detectives on Saturday night arrested two suspects wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting reported on Wednesday, October 13 near 3rd Avenue and West A Street. The 29-year-old victim was injured in the shooting and remains at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. On Saturday officers found and arrested Isaiah Mendez Sanchez and Ruben Valentine Cornejo Jr. The two were taken into custody in the 1000 block of West Nob Hill Blvd and both are being held in the Yakima County jail. Yakima Police say Sanchez was arrested on 1st degree Assault and Drive-By Shooting charges.
Cornejo Jr. was arrested on charges of 1st Degree Assault, Drive-By Shooting, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
Police are still searching for a third suspect
Authorities are still searching for a third suspect, identified as 20-year-old Armando Mendez Sanchez.
Capt. Jay Seely says the arrests show officers are working a variety of different cases and always searching for suspects. Officers from the gang unit were patrolling the city on Saturday night where they spotted and arrested the two gang members.
If anyone has information about the shooting on October 13th, call the Yakima Police Department at (509) 575-6200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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