Man pleads not guilty in double murder case
EMILY THORNTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 5 months AGO
A Moses Lake man pleaded not guilty Monday in Grant County Superior Court to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree unlawful firearm possession.
Noe Pena, 40, is accused of shooting to death Epitacio Martinez-Molina, 52, and his brother, Moises Martinez-Molina, 37, on July 31 in the 8000 block of Road 18 Northeast, about 13 miles north of Moses Lake, according to court records.
Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the home around 11:45 a.m. and saw Pena walking around with a gun on Road 18 Northeast, ordered him to drop the gun and he eventually did. The .45 caliber Springfield XD was later determined to be stolen.
Pena was taken to the Grant County Jail and has a $3 million bail.
A witness told deputies two bodies were inside the garage of the home at 8057 Road 18 Northeast, where Pena was seen. Deputies found the two men’s bodies and the Grant County Coroner confirmed their identities and cause of death.
No motive was given, but court records state the dead men were sitting around a table with playing cards and empty alcoholic beverage containers, suggesting they were all involved in a poker game.
ARTICLES BY EMILY THORNTON
Two injured in rollover collision southeast of Quincy
Two men were injured Wednesday afternoon in a collision on state Route 283, southeast of Quincy, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Two students face possible charges after school lockdown
The Lind-Ritzville High School was in lockdown Thursday morning after a 16-year-old boy made threats against another student, according to an Adams County Sheriff’s Office social media post.
Two injured in collision on state Route 26
Two people were injured Friday afternoon in a collision on state Route 26 at Lucy Road, east of Othello, according to the Washington State Patrol.