Saturday gang shootings under investigation

BEVERLY - The Grant County Sheriff's office was busy Sunday investigating Saturday, Nov. 12, gang-related shootings here and in Desert Aire that resulted in injuries to at least one person.

According to Undersheriff Dave Ponozzo, the series of incidents unfolded at about 11:50 p.m. when deputies responded to reports of shots fired near 201 Pear Place S in Desert Aire.

While deputies were at Desert Aire, there were reports of shots fired in the 18000 block of Second Ave. SW in Beverly.

En route to Beverly, deputies spotted a speeding vehicle and stopped it. They discovered the driver was Juan Tapia, 26, of Yakima, who was wanted on a warrant. Tapia attempted to run, Ponozzo said, but he was arrested.

While the deputies were wrapping up the arrest, a car drove by with persons believed to be gang members. They made threatening gestures toward the deputies, Ponozzo said, and deputies stopped that car.

In the car, deputies found 27-year-old Ruben Lucio, of Mattawa, wounded in the head, back and legs from gun shots, most likely shotgun pellets.

Lucio was taken to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. The car he was riding was seized for a search warrant.

While deputies were attending to Lucio, A Mattawa Police officer stopped a green Honda Accord Coupe which had been following the car containing Lucio. According to Ponozzo, the occupants of the Honda bolted on foot carrying firearms.

Ponozzo said it's believed the Honda and its occupants were involved in a drive-by shotgun shooting in Desert Aire on Thursday night. The Accord is being held for a search warrant.

Anyone with information that could help in this investigation is asked to call 762-1160 or email [email protected].