KENNEWICK, Wash. – UPDATE MARCH 8, 2024-
The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office says Ramon Candido has been sentenced to 30 years in prison and 36 months of Community Custody for second degree murder of Ezekiel Sanchez.
Prosecutors pushed for a higher than usual sentence seeing his lack of remorse for the victim of his murder, Ezekiel Sanchez, and the victim’s family.
Judge Swanberg heard from the Sanchez family on the loss of Ezekiel and agreed to the sentencing.
The Prosecutor’s Office thanked Kennewick Police Department’s lead detective Kris Safranek and Deputy Prosecutors Brittnie Roehm and Tyler Grandgeorge for the work put in to sentence Candido.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE: DECEMBER 27, 2023-
A man was found guilty on Tuesday, Dec. 26 for second degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm from April 2022, according to the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutor Eric Eisinger said in a press release that Ramon Alejandro Candido, 28, shot and killed 25-year-old Ezekiel Sanchez in Kennewick at the intersection of First and Dayton on April 20, 2022.
Sanchez was reportedly sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle when he was shot. Candido argued in court that he was acting in self-defense, however the jury disagreed.
Candido was unanimously found guilty by the jury. His sentencing hearing date has not been set yet.
