UPDATED: MLPD releases additional info on Friday drive-by investigation
R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months, 4 weeks AGO
A Moses Lake Police Department cruiser sits outside a property on Buell Drive in Moses Lake Saturday as the execution of a search warrant was being wrapped up at that location. The warrant was issued in association with the investigation of a Friday evening drive-by shooting several blocks away.
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIABASINHERALD
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
Awareness helps prevent porch pirates’ success
EPHRATA — At least 58 million packages were stolen in the U.S. last year, with about 25% of Americans being the victims of theft, according to the United States Parcel Service. At the local level, there are thefts occurring regularly as well, but that doesn’t mean that you’re stuck being the victim, authorities say. “The experience of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office is that package theft happens regularly,” said GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. “It is a crime of opportunity. When someone’s out looking to try and make a quick buck, they may drive through a neighborhood looking for unattended packages on the front porch.”
Gorge shooting trial rescheduled to 2026
EPHRATA — The trial in the case of James Kelly, the man charged in the June 2023 shooting that led to the deaths of two women at the Beyond Wonderland music festival held at The Gorge Amphitheatre, has been bumped to early next year, according to court documents.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: In appreciation of educators ...
An experience I recently had with a school district, quite honestly, has left me gob-smacked a bit. I am in awe of the teachers and administrators at school districts throughout the region and what they have to deal with. Let me get back to the beginning, though. Journalists often cover a wide variety of topics and are constantly looking for ideas for stories that will matter to readers. As such, when we hear of events of interest, we sometimes ask to attend so we can either cover it, or, as in this case, learn how to cover a topic better.