Two Mattawa men arrested for Ephrata homicide

EPHRATA, Wash. -- Two suspects face murder charges in connection with the March 7 shooting of a 17-year-old boy in southern Grant County.

Mattawa police arrested the pair Wednesday during a traffic stop in Mattawa, the Grant County Sheriff's Office reported. They were expected to make their first court appearance today.

Luis A. Mejia Nunez, 20, of Mattawa and a 15-year old Mattawa boy are charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.

They are accused of being among several occupants in a car from which the shots were fired.

The fatally shot victim, 17-year-old Carlos Leyva, and two companions were walking on a county road between Beverly and Schawana when the suspect vehicle passed by, sheriff's officials said. The occupants made hand signals toward Leyva's group before turning the car around and opening fire.

One of the boys was wounded; the other was able to run away, authorities said.



-- Mark Morey

Ephrata man murdered

EPHRATA — Sage Munro, 35, Ephrata, was found shot to death at his E Street Northeast home Tuesday morning.

A neighbor called police at 6:40 a.m. to report gunfire.

“We got a call of shots fired and a guy stumbling into the house,” said Ephrata police Chief Mike Warren. “We’re treating it as a homicide.”

Officers arrived to find Munro dead in the living room of his home.

Officers from various agencies, comprising the Columbia Basin Investigation Team, are assisting Ephrata police in investigation. Detectives from the Moses Lake Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office are part of the team.

Warren declined to provide further details until later in the investigation, but said they have a few leads.

“We’re going where the evidence leads us,” said Warren.

Anyone with information related to the shooting is asked to contact Ephrata police at 509-754-2491.

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