YAKIMA — A 30-year-old Yakima man who was shot after pointing a gun at Yakima police officers was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Jose Trinidad De Alba pleaded guilty March 28 in Yakima County Superior Court to a single first-degree assault charge and four counts of second-degree assault in connection with the April 16, 2022, incident.
He was originally charged with three counts of first-degree assault and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors dropped the firearms charges in return for the guilty plea, and recommended a 20-year prison sentence.
The sentence is at the low end of the sentencing range based on De Alba’s criminal history and the nature of the crime. He was facing a maximum sentence of 26.5 years.
De Alba has prior convictions for second-degree assault, residential burglary, eluding, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and taking a motor vehicle without permission.
Officers were pursuing De Alba on the domestic violence allegations in the 800 block of North 20th Avenue around 5:35 p.m. April 16, according to court documents. In the domestic violence incident, De Alba was accused of robbing his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint, taking money, a cellphone and a 9mm pistol April 15, court documents said.
When officers tried to stop De Alba, he ran, holding his right waistband as if he had a gun, court documents said.
During the chase, De Alba pointed a gun at the officers, who took cover behind their vehicles, where they grabbed additional body armor and rifles, according to court documents. De Alba, court documents said, then ran to the 1800 block of Jerome Avenue, where he first pointed a gun at his own head and then at officers, who fired on him.
The officers who fired on De Alba were Sgt. Erik Jones and Officer Les Henderson, according to Yakima police.
Police found a 9mm pistol that was reported stolen the day before at De Alba’s feet. He was taken first to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and then to Harborview Medical Center.
Yakima Valley Special Investigations Unit conducted its own investigation of the shooting to determine it were legally justified, and have turned its report over to Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Brusic for final determination.
