UPDATED: MLPD releases additional info on Friday drive-by investigation
R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 months, 3 weeks AGO
Managing Editor Rob Miller is a 4-year U.S. Army veteran who grew up in Western Montana in a community about the size of Soap Lake. An honors graduate of Texas State University, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brandee, and their three dogs, Draco, Pepper and Cinnamon. He has one son, William. During his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, reading and working on the house he and his wife bought in Ephrata. He is passionate about the First Amendment and educating communities. | March 23, 2025 6:18 PM
UPDATE - Sunday, 6:18 p.m. - Moses Lake School District Superintendent Carol Lewis has issued a statement regarding the young shooting victim, who has not been identified by name.
"With profound sadness, we share that one of our students from Frontier Middle School has passed away. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the student’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragedy. Losing a young member of our community is devastating. During this difficult time, we are committed to surrounding our students and staff with the support and care they need," Lewis said.
Additional support staff will be on-hand at Frontier Monday with school counselors, security and safety personnel, MLPD officers, New Hope and support staff on hand to help those dealing with the grief of the student's loss. Additional substitute teachers will also be on campus there and other impacted locations throughout the district to provide extra security, coverage and flexibility for those needing time to grieve and support students.
The district urges families, students and staff to reach out to the district and other resources as needed to obtain support.
Additional resources include:
- Crisis Line (24 hours): 1-800-852-2923
- Renew: (509) 765-9239
- Moses Lake Community Health: (509) 765-0674
- Confluence Health/Behavioral Health: (509) 764-6400
- Youth Dynamics: Will be open 3:30-5:30pm daily for middle and high school students
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Police Department has released additional information regarding the drive-by shooting that occurred on West Loop Drive Friday evening shortly after 9 p.m. during which a 14-year-old boy was killed.
“Detectives continue an around-the-clock investigation into the shooting and several search warrants have been issued and executed,” a statement from MLPD Cpt. Jeff Sursely said.
One of those search warrants was executed Saturday by the Moses Lake Tactical Response team at a home at 1518 Buell Drive in Moses Lake to collect evidence related to the investigation, Sursely said.
In addition to the deceased boy, four other Moses Lake residents were injured and treated at Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. They include two female victims aged 26 and 17 and two male victims, both minors, at 17 and 13 years of age. Those victims were reported in stable condition Saturday.
The shooting occurred shortly after 9 p.m. Friday in the 500 block of West Loop Drive. The scene was locked down until the following morning while MLPD, with the aid of the Washington State Crime Lab, collected evidence.
A vehicle believed to have been used in the incident has been located and seized as evidence, but no suspects have been reported as arrested as of early Sunday afternoon.
Considering the death of the boy, the Moses Lake School District has said it is prepared to assist students and staff who are grieving the loss of their classmate and student. Anyone needing to speak with a counselor is advised to speak with their teacher or campus administration to access that care.
Sursely advised that no further information will be released at this time in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Anyone with information about the shooting may contact the Moses Lake Police Department and reference case number 25ML03882.
The Columbia Basin Herald will publish additional information as it becomes available.
ARTICLES BY R. HANS MILLER
Feb. 10 initial election results
EPHRATA — Voters were asked to approve or reject educational programs and operations levy requests from a number of Grant and Adams county school districts in Tuesday’s special election. Voters in the Ephrata School District and East Adams Rural Healthcare decided the fate of specific proposals. Unofficial results released Tuesday night are listed below with additional votes coming in via mail over the next few days. Mailed-in ballots must have been postmarked by Feb. 10, 2026 to be counted.
COLUMN: It’s amazing what you can learn ...
Four years ago, almost to the day, my wife and I closed on the first home either of us have owned, a stunningly Pepto-pink house in Ephrata with what we thought of at the time as “character.” It turns out, that character is really, in many ways, a lot of work. Work I hadn’t done much of since helping my dad out when I was a kid a few decades ago. Still though, all of the work I had to relearn or learn – thank goodness for the folks at Ace, Lowe’s and experts on YouTube – has been incredibly rewarding.
Take a wander, see a wonder
MOSES LAKE — Living in Central Washington has a lot of perks, and one of those is the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife.