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Man killed over drug prices

Herald Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years, 6 months AGO
by Herald Staff WriterCameron Probert
| May 4, 2011 6:00 AM

EPHRATA - A 23-year-old Moses Lake man was reportedly killed after he started buying drugs from a different dealer.

Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline issued a bench warrant for Gilberto Valdovinos Medina Jr., 22, Moses Lake, with bail set at $1 million. He is charged with murder in the first degree in Grant County Superior Court.

Law enforcement are seeking Valdovinos Medina. Anyone seeing him are asked to call 9-1-1. He is considered armed and dangerous, according to police.

He is described as standing 5 foot, 8 inches tall, weighs 170 pounds, Hispanic, shaved head, goatee, and tattoos on the side of his neck and arms, according to the sheriff's office. He has used the aliases of Pedro and Diablo.

Witnesses reported Joaquin O. Serrano and Valdovinos Medina allegedly sold heroin in Moses Lake, with Serrano buying the drugs from his fellow gang member and selling it at the same price, according to a Grant County sheriff's report. Serrano reportedly started buying drugs from Yakima and selling them for less than Valdovinos Medina.

Serrano allegedly told a friend he was worried something was going to happen because Valdovinos Medina was upset, according to the police report. Valdovinos Medina reportedly told Serrano, "This was his town and he sets prices."

Valdovinos Medina reportedly was driven to Serrano's Sun Drive residence, where he shot the man, according to the police report. He and the driver returned home, and reportedly started speaking with neighbors. Valdovinos Medina allegedly bragged about the shooting, showing one of the people a .45 caliber handgun. 

Grant County sheriff's deputies responded to reports of shots being fired near Serrano's house on Sun Drive at 3 a.m., according to a police report. The deputies reported they didn't find anything when they responded to the area.

One of Serrano's neighbors contacted police the next afternoon, saying the man wasn't answering the door and the house was shot up, according to the police report. Police arrived at the scene and found bullet holes in the door and windows. They entered the residence through the back door, and found Serrano dead in his living room. Investigators believe he was sitting in a reclining love seat when he was shot.

Police recovered 11 .45 caliber shell casings from the scene, according to the police report. 

Witnesses reported seeing a maroon or dark purple SUV driving away from the scene, according to the police report. Investigators discovered a video showing a Chevy Tahoe driving away from the residence, and reportedly traced the vehicle to the driver.

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