Suspect in drive-by shootings is arrested

By Terry Murry on Thursday, November 11th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

KENNEWICK – Since October 2020, detectives with the Kennewick Police Department have been investigating a string of drive-by shootings. Now, through witness statements and evidence collection, Miguel Vargas, 19, of Kennewick has been linked to several drive-by shootings.

On Tuesday, KPD detectives and deputies from the United States Marshals Service located Vargas and took him into custody without incident. He has been booked into the Benton County Jail for drive-by shooting and first-degree assault.

Prior to his arrest, a nationwide extraditable warrant was obtained to arrest Vargas related to a drive-by shooting that occurred in July on the 1900 block of West Sixth Avenue. During that investigation, ammunition casings were collected, and bullet fragments were located in a residence that linked Vargas to the crime.

The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office will be reviewing the evidence of other previous drive-by shootings with possible additional charges forthcoming.