Juvenile Charged As An Adult in City Gang Shooting
A suspect in the October 28 shooting death of a 18-year-old the intersection of South 20th Avenue and West Nob Hill Boulevard was in court on Tuesday.
The juvenile will face charges in adult court
16-year-old Luis Daniel Valencia is facing a charge of second-degree murder. Under Washington State Law Valencia was charged as an adult in the shooting death of Sebastian Alejandro Suarez. State law calls for juveniles who are 16-years-old or older to be charged as adults when facing murder charges.
He's currently being held in the Yakima County Juvenile jail. Yakima Police say he and another 14-year-old suspect shot 18-year-old Suarez after a confrontation at the intersection.
The 14-year-old suspect will remain in juvenile court
The 14-year-old suspect faces second-degree murder and unlawful firearms possession charge as a juvenile.
Police say the shooting was gang related. Earlier this month police arrested the both suspects with the help of an arrest warrant from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office along with help from the U.S. Marshall’s Service and the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force.
Suarez was shot after exchanging words with the two suspects
Authorities say Suarez was driving with his girlfriend on South 20th Avenue when he drove up to the intersection at about 6:00 pm. They say he exchanged words with the two suspects who then shot Suarez and fled the scene. Suarez died at the intersection. The investigation continues Today.