Moses Lake boy killed on Sunday also targeted in January

A 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed early Sunday in Moses Lake was also the victim of a shooting in late January. The Grant County sheriff is asking for the public’s help in identifying the killer of Brandon Michael Mende. Mende was shot around 3 a.m. at a home at 6020 Turnkey Road Northeast in the Larson Housing Area just outside Moses Lake, officials said. He was also shot twice on Jan. 20 after being chased on Arlington Drive in Moses Lake by an unidentified assailant, a news release from the sheriff’s office said. “We believe Brandon was targeted Jan. 20 and Sunday morning, and that both shootings were not random,” Sheriff Tom Jones said in the release. Jones said neither Mende nor witnesses to the crime cooperated with detectives after the January shooting. “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,” Jones said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (509) 762-1160 or send information to crimetips@co.grant.wa.us. Tips may be given anonymously.