Murder charge added after drive-by shooting in Sunnyside

Because the shootings occurred just outside city limits, the Yakima County Sheriff's Office will take over the case as a drive-by shooting, and new charges have now been added.

Victim dies, murder charges filed

Late in the afternoon of last Thursday, September 12, Sunnyside officers responded to an area near Rouse Road and Becker Alley near town where a drive-by shooting was reported.

When officers arrived, they found the suspect's vehicle and began to pursue it. A short time later, the suspect car crashed near Lester and Van Belle streets. All four occupants fled the scene and ran through corn fields. Police officers were able to arrest all four.

During the investigation, it was determined that the drive-by incident occurred outside of city limits, prompting Yakima County to investigate. The victim of the shooting was a male teenager who suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

The teen, who was taken to a Tri-City area hospital, died over the weekend. Now, the four suspects are not only facing charges of gun possession and drive-by shooting, but according to the Yakima County District Attorney's Office, they are now facing murder charges as well.