Defendant sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison for fatal shooting
Family rift described as a "truly tragic case."
Updated
During a hearing Tuesday in Grant County Superior Court, Judge Melissa Chlarson listened to testimony from the mother (at right) of Daniel Alcala, who was fatally shot last summer. The incident “caused such damage … it has destroyed the unity of the family,” the court was told through an interpreter. Photos by Randy Bracht
EPHRATA — An Ephrata man convicted of first-degree assault for fatally shooting another man during a confrontation at a local gas station last summer was sentenced Tuesday to nearly 15 years in prison.
The defendant, 31-year-old Eriberto Mendoza, showed little emotion when the sentence was imposed by Judge Melissa Chlarson following a nearly two-hour hearing in Grant County Superior Court.
Mendoza was accused of gunning down Daniel Alcala, 30, also of Ephrata, during a family-related altercation on the evening of July 20, 2025, at the Hawk Fuel convenience store on North Basin Street.
Eriberto Mendoza glances at family members prior to the start of his sentencing hearing Tuesday afternoon in Ephrata.
During a weeklong trial last month, Mendoza and his attorney claimed the shooting was justifiable homicide because Alcala had attacked Mendoza’s younger brother, Juan, who was seated in a pickup truck at the gas pumps.
Juan Mendoza was living with Alcala’s sister and they have two children together. But the couple had argued that morning over a text message Juan reportedly received from another woman, according to court documents and trial testimony. The alleged dispute was shared with others during the day and created a rift among the families.
Daniel Alcala and his family coincidentally arrived at the gas station while the Mendozas — described as brothers-in-law — were there. Alcala approached Juan while he was seated as a passenger in the truck and began punching him after allegedly accusing Mendoza of “hurting his sister.”
Eriberto Mendoza, who was inside the convenience store, rushed outside, shot Alcala several times, then drove away with his brother. Alcala died at the scene. Juan Mendoza also sustained a minor leg injury from a bullet fragment and was treated at Columbia Basin Hospital.
Following an investigation by Ephrata police and Grant County sheriff’s deputies, county prosecutors concluded that Eriberto Mendoza did not issue a warning or attempt to de-escalate the situation before shooting Alcala, who was not armed with a weapon.
Jailed since his arrest on the night of the shooting, Mendoza was charged with second-degree murder or, alternatively, with lesser charges of first-degree assault and first- and second-degree manslaughter. All carried an enhanced penalty for use of a firearm.
At trial, Mendoza’s attorney, Senit Lutgen of Spokane, contended the shooting was a justifiable homicide, in which the slayer believed the slain person intended to inflict death or great personal injury to another individual. County deputy prosecutor Cole Deaver, in turn, characterized Alcala’s attack as a misdemeanor assault, noting that Juan Mendoza did not suffer any significant injuries, and that Eriberto’s use of force in response was excessive and unreasonable.
After deliberating over two days, the 12-member jury convicted Mendoza of first-degree assault rather than second-degree murder, which carries a standard prison term of 12 to 20 years under state sentencing guidelines. The range for first-degree assault is less, roughly 8 to 10 years in prison. A mandatory 5-year penalty is added to either crime because a firearm was involved.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Deaver asked Chlarson to impose a combined high-end term of 183 months, or just over 15 years behind bars. The prosecutor called it a “truly tragic case” — not a “normal” murder or assault — in which neither the deceased or the defendant “went the right way.” But Deaver described Alcala as someone who “cared deeply for his family … (and) will be unable to see his children grow up.”
Chlarson heard emotional testimony from the victim’s family, some of whom wore shirts printed with Alcala’s photo, about their loss. A tearful daughter told the court that Mendoza “took my dad. I pray that justice be served by my daddy.”
In contrast, Lutgen asked the judge for an “exceptional” low sentence of 24 months plus the 60-month firearm enhancement for a total of 84 months (seven years) in prison with credit for 450 days already served in jail. The attorney referred to numerous letters submitted to the court from family, friends, and coworkers who described Mendoza as honest, reliable, a devoted father and husband.
“My client’s intention was to save his brother,” Lutgen told the judge, adding, “He has to live with this, too … It haunts him.”
Given an opportunity to speak, Mendoza simply told the court, “I’m sorry for the events and what happened.”
Chlarson’s sentence was five months less than a maximum term — a total of 178 months in prison, followed by 36 months’ supervision upon release. Mendoza was also ordered to pay restitution to be determined for Alcala’s funeral expenses and to have no contact with the victim’s sister.
The judge denied a motion for a new trial sought by Lutgen, who contended jurors may have been confused by the court’s response after questioning one instruction during their deliberations on whether first-degree assault could be considered “justifiable.”
In response, Chlarson said she believed the instruction was clear and supported by evidence, there was no irregularity or error of law, and the jury understood the law.
With sentencing completed, Lutgen said he intended to withdraw as Mendoza’s attorney, but indicated the case would likely be appealed.
Passing by a security guard, family members of Daniel Alcala — some wearing clothing with his picture — leave the courtroom following the sentencing hearing.
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Defendant sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison for fatal shooting
Family rift described as a "truly tragic case."
EPHRATA — An Ephrata man convicted of first-degree assault for fatally shooting another man during a confrontation at a local gas station last summer was sentenced Tuesday to nearly 15 years in prison.
The defendant, 31-year-old Eriberto Mendoza, showed little emotion when the sentence was imposed by Judge Melissa Chlarson following a nearly two-hour hearing in Grant County Superior Court.
Mendoza was accused of gunning down Daniel Alcala, 30, also of Ephrata, during a family-related altercation on the evening of July 20, 2025, at the Hawk Fuel convenience store on North Basin Street.
During a weeklong trial last month, Mendoza and his attorney claimed the shooting was justifiable homicide because Alcala had attacked Mendoza’s younger brother, Juan, who was seated in a pickup truck at the gas pumps.
Juan Mendoza was living with Alcala’s sister and they have two children together. But the couple had argued that morning over a text message Juan reportedly received from another woman, according to court documents and trial testimony. The alleged dispute was shared with others during the day and created a rift among the families.
Daniel Alcala and his family coincidentally arrived at the gas station while the Mendozas — described as brothers-in-law — were there. Alcala approached Juan while he was seated as a passenger in the truck and began punching him after allegedly accusing Mendoza of “hurting his sister.”
Eriberto Mendoza, who was inside the convenience store, rushed outside, shot Alcala several times, then drove away with his brother. Alcala died at the scene. Juan Mendoza also sustained a minor leg injury from a bullet fragment and was treated at Columbia Basin Hospital.
Following an investigation by Ephrata police and Grant County sheriff’s deputies, county prosecutors concluded that Eriberto Mendoza did not issue a warning or attempt to de-escalate the situation before shooting Alcala, who was not armed with a weapon.
Jailed since his arrest on the night of the shooting, Mendoza was charged with second-degree murder or, alternatively, with lesser charges of first-degree assault and first- and second-degree manslaughter. All carried an enhanced penalty for use of a firearm.
At trial, Mendoza’s attorney, Senit Lutgen of Spokane, contended the shooting was a justifiable homicide, in which the slayer believed the slain person intended to inflict death or great personal injury to another individual. County deputy prosecutor Cole Deaver, in turn, characterized Alcala’s attack as a misdemeanor assault, noting that Juan Mendoza did not suffer any significant injuries, and that Eriberto’s use of force in response was excessive and unreasonable.
After deliberating over two days, the 12-member jury convicted Mendoza of first-degree assault rather than second-degree murder, which carries a standard prison term of 12 to 20 years under state sentencing guidelines. The range for first-degree assault is less, roughly 8 to 10 years in prison. A mandatory 5-year penalty is added to either crime because a firearm was involved.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Deaver asked Chlarson to impose a combined high-end term of 183 months, or just over 15 years behind bars. The prosecutor called it a “truly tragic case” — not a “normal” murder or assault — in which neither the deceased or the defendant “went the right way.” But Deaver described Alcala as someone who “cared deeply for his family … (and) will be unable to see his children grow up.”
Chlarson heard emotional testimony from the victim’s family, some of whom wore shirts printed with Alcala’s photo, about their loss. A tearful daughter told the court that Mendoza “took my dad. I pray that justice be served by my daddy.”
In contrast, Lutgen asked the judge for an “exceptional” low sentence of 24 months plus the 60-month firearm enhancement for a total of 84 months (seven years) in prison with credit for 450 days already served in jail. The attorney referred to numerous letters submitted to the court from family, friends, and coworkers who described Mendoza as honest, reliable, a devoted father and husband.
“My client’s intention was to save his brother,” Lutgen told the judge, adding, “He has to live with this, too … It haunts him.”
Given an opportunity to speak, Mendoza simply told the court, “I’m sorry for the events and what happened.”
Chlarson’s sentence was five months less than a maximum term — a total of 178 months in prison, followed by 36 months’ supervision upon release. Mendoza was also ordered to pay restitution to be determined for Alcala’s funeral expenses and to have no contact with the victim’s sister.
The judge denied a motion for a new trial sought by Lutgen, who contended jurors may have been confused by the court’s response after questioning one instruction during their deliberations on whether first-degree assault could be considered “justifiable.”
In response, Chlarson said she believed the instruction was clear and supported by evidence, there was no irregularity or error of law, and the jury understood the law.
With sentencing completed, Lutgen said he intended to withdraw as Mendoza’s attorney, but indicated the case would likely be appealed.