WSP makes drive-by shooting arrest
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, March 7th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Ismael Jimenez-Mendoza, 19, was arrested last week after a drive-by shooting west of Walla Walla. On March 1 at about 1 p.m., a man called 911 to report he was traveling eastbound on U.S. 12 near Spalding Road and had just been shot at by someone in a white Honda Civic.
The victim reported the vehicle exited the highway and was driving eastbound on Heritage Road. Troopers found the suspect vehicle and stopped it near Pine Street and Irene Street. There were two occupants in the car. Jimenez-Mendoza, the passenger, told a trooper that a gun was under the front passenger seat. According to court documents, the gun had been taken from Jimenez-Mendoza’s mother without her permission.
On the ground just outside the front passenger door where Jimenez-Mendoza exited was an empty casing. Detectives arrived at the scene and examined the casing which they believe fell off Jimenez-Mendoza as he exited the vehicle.
A search warrant for the vehicle was granted and a .38-caliber pistol was located under the front passenger seat. Several spent casings were located underneath the front passenger seat, rear passenger side floorboard, and rear passenger side door handle. An inspection of the victim’s vehicle did not show any evidence of it being struck by gunfire.
Jimenez-Mendoza was arrested for first-degree assault and drive-by shooting. He’s made his first court appearance, but charges have not yet been formally filed against him.
