Brother, sister charged in Toppenish gang killings

A lower Yakima Valley brother and sister have been charged with aggravated first-degree murder in an apparent gang-related double killing.

Twenty-three-year-old Anthony Sanchez of Buena was arraigned Monday and 21-year-old Isabel Sanchez was set for arraignment Tuesday. He's described as the shooter and is being held on $5 million bail. She's also in jail with bail set at $1 million.

The case stems from the killing of 17-year-old Estevan Silva Jr. and 20-year-old Israel Diaz in Toppenish on March 5.

Police say Isabel Sanchez was driving when she and her brother spotted a group and intercepted them as they were taking a shortcut home. Anthony Sanchez is accused of opening fire after the two sides exchanged gang-related comments.

Prosecutors have 30 days to decide whether to seek the death penalty.

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Information from: Yakima Herald-Republic, http://www.yakima-herald.com

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