MOSES LAKE, Wash. – The Moses Lake Police Department arrested two men after one broke into a woman’s apartment and the other was found in possession of a gun.
On the morning of May 7, around 8 a.m., the Moses Lake police received reports of a home invasion robbery at an apartment in the 100 block of East Broadway, according to the Moses Lake PD. When police arrived, they encountered Damien Ray, a 27-year-old from Kennewick.
Ray informed officers that he had been visiting a lady friend when the woman’s ex-partner entered the apartment and threatened him with a firearm. The man was later identified as Daniel Gazca, a 28-year-old from Moses Lake. Ray said he merely wanted to retrieve his clothes from the woman’s apartment.
Police noted that they could hear signs of an ongoing domestic disturbance upon approaching the apartment. Officers subsequently entered the premises and apprehended Gazca. The female victim reported being pistol-whipped and displayed facial injuries consistent with her account.
Police provided her with medical assistance and access to support services. She stated that the pistol belonged to Gazca but mentioned that he must have left it when he had vacated the apartment several months prior.
Subsequently, officers discovered a social media post by Ray featuring him posing with the same gun Gazca had used in the assault. Ray was then charged with felon in possession of a firearm.
Gazca faced charges of Burglary First Degree, Assault First Degree, and Assault Fourth Degree/Domestic Violence.
