A 21-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a 2024 Lakewood drive-by shooting that prosecutors say killed one person and wounded three others. Authorities say Alan Viramontes‑Rivera now faces second-degree murder and multiple assault charges, with bail set at $1 million.
According to The News Tribune, a bench warrant for Viramontes‑Rivera was issued June 24, and he was booked into the Pierce County Jail on June 30. The outlet reports that prosecutors charged him with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree assault, one count of drive-by shooting and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault.
What Happened on Aug. 25, 2024?
Shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 25, 2024, Lakewood police responded to reports of multiple people exchanging gunfire near 33rd Avenue South and 82nd Street South. Investigators recovered a heavy volume of shell casings and a van that had been struck repeatedly by gunfire. One person was taken to Madigan Army Medical Center and later died, while three others suffered non-life-threatening wounds.
Detectives used surveillance footage and phone data to identify a black Chevrolet Silverado believed to have been involved, and authorities arrested a father-and-son pair in connection with the case, which local coverage described as an ambush-style attack with roughly 60 rounds fired. As reported by FOX 13 Seattle, investigators relied heavily on video and cellphone records to track the suspects.
The Camry, the Call and the New Suspect
Court documents say a white Camry pulled up near the victims’ van minutes before the main shooting and later returned and fired shots, investigators allege. Eduardo Mendoza Molinero told detectives he identified “Alan” as one of the Camry occupants and said the Camry callers alerted the Silverado to the van’s location.
Viramontes‑Rivera is the sixth person charged in the case, according to The News Tribune, which names Julio and Matthew Lucas, Juan Angel Lucas‑Gonzalez, Eduardo Mendoza Molinero and Isaac Esquivel‑Villalbazo as the other suspects.
Where the Investigation Stands
Several defendants tied to the shooting have already been arraigned. Prosecutors say Julio Cesar Lucas and his son Matthew Cesar Lucas were arrested in September 2024 and pleaded not guilty. A judge set bail at $3 million for Julio and $2 million for Matthew, FOX 13 Seattle reported, and additional arraignments followed for other people named in charging papers.
With Viramontes‑Rivera now in custody, Pierce County prosecutors say the investigation remains active as they continue to sort through surveillance, phone data and witness statements.
Legal Context
Under Washington law, murder in the second degree is a class A felony, and the felony-murder and intentional-killing provisions can both be implicated depending on how prosecutors frame the evidence. Defendants in the case are presumed innocent as the court process moves forward, and any sentencing exposure would be governed by state statutes and the standard sentencing ranges. See RCW 9A.32.050 for the state definition and classification of second-degree murder.
