Man Killed by Gang as Gang Bill Dies
This just one day after the Washington senate votes down the gang bill.
Police say on Saturday night near North 16th Ave and Spokane Street, gang members pulled up alongside 40-year old David R Duarte and his nephew, and opened fire.
Duarte was driven to a parking lot on the 1500 block of West Mead. Police were contacted but it was too late, Duarte was already dead. They say he wasn't involved with a gang, but his nephew is. No arrests have been made, but Yakima Police say they're closing in.
"Its a good time for the investigation so they're working real hard on it and trying to get as much information as they can" Yakima Police Sergeant Tony Bennett said.
State Representative Norm Johnson says violence like this could be prevented with the gang bill, "Here's a man who dies and he's innocent, as far as we know. And (other Senators are) telling me this is a Yakima problem."
The bill would have classified criminal gang activity as a nuisance, and shut down homes that are hot spots for gangs. It also would have allowed residents to file legal action if you saw gang activity in your neighborhood. Stricter penalties for offenders was also included.
Rep. Johnson says a handful of key senators told him it wasn't a problem in their communities.
He disagreed, "I hate to tell them that but they need to go to Hilltop in Tacoma, they need to go to Spokane and Moses Lake."
The bill was shut down by the State Senate late Friday. Although the passing would not have saved Duarte's life, it would have put harsher penalties on those involved and saved others through out the state.
Johnson added, "I don't care what part of the state it is. There are gang problems all over the State of Washington."