Incidents are gang-related

EPHRATA - Ephrata police are investigating three gang-related incidents, one involving an attempted murder.

Police arrested 15 people involved with the incidents over the weekend.

The first incident was reported Saturday at about 3:54 p.m. at an apartment complex on E Street Northeast, Ephrata police Chief Joe Varick said.

A male was attempting to retrieve belongings from one of the apartments and was reportedly chased and attacked. He suffered a small cut to his forehead and refused medical treatment, Varick stated.

The victim did not cooperate with the investigation and no arrests were made.

At about 10:25 p.m. the same day, police responded to a fight on Basin Street Southwest.

Gilberto Valdovinos-Medina Jr., 20, Moses Lake, and Joshua Barron, 18, Moses Lake, were each arrested for rioting and malicious mischief in the second degree.

At about 1:41 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting heard in the area of Basin Street and 14th Avenue. It is believed to be a drive-by shooting, according to Varick.

Several suspects reportedly beat a 20-year-old Ephrata man, Varick said. Suspects reportedly fired shots at the victim but he was not hit by gunfire. He fled the area and was treated at Columbia Basin Hospital for a mild concussion and abrasions. He was released from the hospital the same day.

Alex Eduardo Alvizurez, 18, Moses Lake, Salvador Rivera Romero, 22, Moses Lake, and a 16-year-old male were arrested for attempted murder and drive-by shooting for the alleged shooting, according to Grant County Jail records.

Ten other people were arrested for involvement in the shooting incident.

Ruben Sabedra, 20, Moses Lake, a 15-year-old Moses Lake male, a 16-year-old Moses Lake male, three 17-year-old Moses Lake males and a 17-year-old Soap Lake female were all arrested for suspicion of drive-by shooting. Jennifer Lynn Bazan, 18, Ephrata, was arrested for obstruction of justice.

Mario Maldonado Pichardo, 18, Moses Lake, was booked for possession of a stolen firearm and a warrant concerning driving under the influence of alcohol, according to Grant County Jail records. Troy Romero Rivera, 18, Moses Lake, was booked for possession of a stolen firearm.

Police located the vehicle believed to be used in the drive-by shooting, a 1994 Nissan Altima, at an apartment complex on E Street Northeast. The driver of the vehicle was in the process of parking at the complex, Varick said. Some suspects fled the vehicle into the apartment complex but were later arrested.

Police obtained a search warrant to search the vehicle and recovered a .22 caliber rifle believed to be used in the shooting, he said.

The Ephrata Police Department was assisted by the Grant County Sheriff's Office, the Washington State Patrol, the Grand Coulee Police Department, the Soap Lake Police Department, the Coulee City Police Department, the Quincy Police Department, the Ephrata Fire Department and Douglas County Fire District No. 2.