U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Two, Continues Search for Last Remaining Norteño Gang Member in Connection to Moses Lake Homicide

Spokane, WA – The U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF) has arrested two fugitives and continues its search for Jose Beltran-Rodriguez, 20, the last remaining suspect in the March 21 drive-by shooting in Moses Lake, Washington, that killed a 14-year-old and injured four others.

Two Suspects in Custody

• On March 24, at the request of the U.S. Marshals, the Richland Police Department arrested a juvenile suspect at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. The suspect, who had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg, is charged with first-degree murder.
• On March 28 at 2:30 AM, the U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force – Oregon, arrested Matthew Valdez in coordination with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Community Violence Reduction Team (COVRT) and Washington County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Negotiations Team (TNT) in Beaverton, Oregon, without incident.

Last Fugitive Still at Large

Jose Beltran-Rodriguez remains a fugitive. He is wanted on an arrest warrant issued on March 25, charging him with: Murder in the First Degree, Five Counts of Assault in the First Degree, Drive-By Shooting, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Beltran-Rodriguez is a suspected member of the transnational criminal gang Norteños, involved in drug trafficking, violent assaults, robbery, homicide, money laundering, and unlawful firearm possession.

U. S. Marshal Craig Thayer stated that “This horrific murder with four additional assault victims has been, and will continue to be, a top priority for all law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice.  With two arrests already made, efforts are now concentrated on the outstanding arrest warrant for Jose Beltran-Rodriguez.”

Beltran-Rodriguez is considered armed and dangerous, and the public is urged not to approach him and to call 911. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should immediately contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or send tips via the USMS Tips app.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Further details will be released as they become available.

The Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a U.S. Marshals-led partnership comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The task force’s primary mission is to locate, arrest and return to the justice system the most violent and egregious federal and state fugitives. Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force.