Moses Lake – Authorities have arrested Luis Medina, 27, in connection with a shocking March 8 drive-by shooting that left a Moses Lake man injured. Medina was taken into custody Friday and booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault and drive-by shooting, according to Moses Lake Police Captain Jeff Sursely.
The victim, Monty Dent, 32, was shot in the arm and back and had to be airlifted to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane due to the severity of his injuries. Dent, the son of Washington State Representative Tom Dent, has since been released and is now recovering.
Authorities reported that a gun was found in the suspect’s vehicle and is being tested to determine if it was the weapon used in the shooting.
The violent incident began with a heated argument in the 1100 block of Stratford Road on the evening of March 8. Witnesses reported that a white sedan pulled up alongside Dent’s vehicle and fired multiple shots as both cars traveled northbound on Stratford Road.
Rep. Tom Dent, who was attending the 2025 Washington Legislative Session, expressed deep concern about rising violence and lack of civil communication in society.
“What are we doing that’s creating this?” Dent questioned, emphasizing the increasing trend of people turning to violence over disagreements. He believes the COVID-19 pandemic intensified social isolation, worsening the issue.
Despite the tragedy, Dent received bipartisan support from his colleagues, including Governor Bob Ferguson, who offered state resources to assist him in reaching Spokane quickly.
A strong advocate for stricter gun crime penalties, Dent vowed to push for tougher laws to prevent such incidents in the future.
“No matter what, this is not what a polite society does,” he stated.
