Wapato Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison
A 25-year-old man from Wapato, Washington, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his role in a deadly shooting and an attempted carjacking on the Yakama Nation reservation.
Deryk Alexander Donato, an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, assault with intent to commit murder, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian on February 21, 2018.
The crimes occurred in the early morning hours of July 7, 2017. A young man was shot and killed outside his residence in Wapato, Washington. According to a witness, the victim was shot after speaking with individuals who pulled up to the house in a sport utility vehicle. As the victim walked away, an occupant in the vehicle exited and began shooting at the victim.
Investigators arrived on scene and interviewed a witness who heard someone yell “Bomber” or “No, Bomber.” Although unable to see the assailant’s face, the witness was able to give law enforcement officers a description of the shooter’s clothing. The victim, also an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, died on scene.
Not long after this incident, the driver of a vehicle was shot in the shoulder by an assailant during an attempted carjacking near White Swan, Washington. The assailant fled on foot. The victim of this shooting was also an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation. While being interviewed by law enforcement, witnesses identified Donato as the shooter and said he used the nickname “Bomber.”
As part of the investigation, officers interviewed one or more of Donato’s acquaintances who stated they saw Donato with a rifle near the time of the shooting incidents and asked him why he had a rifle. Donato told his acquaintances they would find out tomorrow and gave them a round of ammunition. Law enforcement obtained this round of ammunition to compare it with spent rounds of ammunition recovered from both shooting scenes. As a result of forensic examination, investigators were able to link the spent rounds of ammunition recovered at the shootings to Donato.
United States Attorney Joseph H. Harrington praised the investigative efforts of law enforcement, saying, “This case is another example of the excellent work that can be accomplished when federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers work together.”
The case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods.
Deryk Alexander Donato, 25, Wapato, Washington; exact criminal charges: Voluntary Manslaughter, Assault with Intent to Commit Murder, Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence; City and state: Wapato, Washington; Exact date: July 7, 2017; Sentence or outcome: 25 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of court supervision.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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