EPHRATA — The trial into the shooting of a 23-year-old Moses Lake man is progressing through Grant County Superior Court. Darwin Nahun Tejada Martinez, 29, of Seattle is on trial facing a single charge of Assault in the First Degree after investigators say he shot the victim in a Nov. 25, 2025, incident.  

According to the probable cause statement in the case, an on-call detective with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a gunshot victim being treated at Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake.  

It was determined that the shooting had occurred where Tejada Martinez and the victim were working at a food truck operating in the parking lot of a smoke shop in the 4700 block of Stratford Road NE in rural Moses Lake. 

Upon arrival, the detective interviewed the victim and Tejada Martinez, and the pair offered conflicting stories. Initially, there was report of a drive-by from a white sedan, but the story later changed as inconsistencies in reviewing the crime scene and video footage from a nearby business arose. Eventually, the claims of the victim and suspect changed, but Tejeda Martinez claimed the victim shot himself accidentally, while the victim claimed Tejada Marinez had shot him.  

After reviewing on-site evidence and being advised by the victim that he wished to press charges, officers arrested Tejada Martinez and he has been in jail since, being held without bail. He entered a plea of not guilty Dec. 1, 2025. His case has since had multiple hearings and a protection order is in place to prevent him from contacting the victim. A hearing on March 5 was rescheduled to Wednesday, March 18, due to a witness being unavailable that day.  

Under RCW 9A.36.011, Assault in the First Degree is a Class A felony. If convicted, the suspect faces a maximum term of life in prison and a $50,000 fine.