EPHRATA — Bail was set at $1 million  in Grant County Superior Court Monday for one of two people charged in the shooting death of Juan “Pooky” Vasquez.

Cesar Ismael Ramos DeLaCruz, 27, Moses Lake, is charged with murder in the first degree, and is expected to enter a plea on Monday.

Chief Deputy Ed Owens requested bail be set at $1 million because of the nature of the crime and because Ramos DeLaCruz tried to flee.

“This is a case of an unprovoked shooting that resulted in the death of a young man in this community,” Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ed Owens said. “Evidence shows it was not self-defense or anything. Once that shooting took place, the defendant packed up and went to California.”

Owens said law enforcement needed to retrieve Ramos DeLaCruz and transport him back to Washington.

Public Defender Dean Terrillion reserved the right to argue about bail at a later time.

“I haven’t seen his criminal history or his (probably cause) statement or anything,” he said.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz agreed to set bail at $1 million.

Ramos DeLaCruz along with Frankie Mahto Larioz, 19, Moses Lake, reportedly confronted Vasquez about money a juvenile friend owed for drugs, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office report. All three men were in their vehicles at the intersection of Vandenberg Loop and Doolittle Drive during the confrontation.

Vasquez and Larioz were allegedly talking when Ramos DeLaCruz started discussing the drug debt. Vasquez reportedly began to leave the intersection due to the conversation.

The 19-year-old was attempting to flee the two men, when Ramos DeLaCruz reportedly exited the vehicle and shot Vasquez twice with a .357 Magnum. A third shot missed the victim, according to the sheriff’s office.

After being struck, Vasquez’s car collided with an oncoming Ford Bronco on Patton Boulevard. He was transported to Samaritan Healthcare where he was pronounced dead.

Larioz entered a not guilty plea in superior court on July 6.