Statement from Sheriff Tom Jones regarding the Brandon Mende homicide
Sunday morning, Brandon Michael Mende, age 16 of Moses Lake died after being shot while attending a party at a home on Turnkey Road in Moses Lake. To Brandon’s family: I am very sorry for your loss and I hope you can find peace. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain of losing a child.
Brandon Mende was also the victim of the Jan. 20 shooting on Arlington Drive in Moses Lake. He received non-life-threatening injuries after being chased and shot by an unidentified assailant. It’s important for the public to know that we believe Brandon was targeted Jan. 20 and Sunday morning, and that both shootings were not random.
In all criminal cases, we need victims and witnesses to cooperate with investigators and help us bring criminals to justice. Without victim and witness cooperation, investigations can stall and criminals may never be held accountable. In the January case, witnesses and Brandon Mende did not cooperate with detectives, and as a result, arresting and charging the shooter in the first case was not possible.
I am hopeful witnesses to Brandon Mende’s death will feel compelled to help investigators identify the person who killed him and help bring that person to justice.
Address/Location
Grant County Sheriff's Office
35 C St NW
Ephrata, WA 98823
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 509-754-2011
Kyle Foreman
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
509-760-3713