Murder suspect expected to hire new lawyer, seeks second opinion

A suspect in the 2014 ambush-style killing of a Pasco man is in the process of hiring a new attorney, which may delay his first-degree murder trial scheduled for next month.

DeShawn I. Anderson, 20, told a judge Friday that he wants another attorney to review his case before the trial. If convicted he will likely spend decades in prison.

“I do not feel we are ready for the May 18th trial,” Anderson said in court.

Anderson is represented by Shelly Ajax, though his family is planning to officially hire Sarah Perez, an attorney from Bellevue who has agreed to take the case.

Deputy Prosecutor Brian Hultgrenn objected to pushing the trial date back, saying the case is 16 months old and prosecutors have prepared to fly witnesses in to testify.

Judge Alex Ekstrom agreed to reset a hearing for early next month to allow Perez time to officially take on the case. However, he made a point to tell Anderson that the case would not be delayed for a long period of time.

Anderson is also charged with four counts of first-degree assault. Police and prosecutors allege he was involved in a gang feud when he opened fire on a car full of men in late 2014, injuring three.

As authorities around the region looked for Anderson in connection with the shooting, police say he ambushed Lorenzo “Richie” Fernandez Jr. at a Pasco apartment complex. Fernandez was shot multiple times inside his Ford Mustang.

Another man and woman are also charged in the December 2014 murder.

Kenyatta Bridges is charged with first-degree murder while he or an accomplice was armed with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and second-degree unlawful possession of a gun.

Bridges helped lure Fernandez to the apartments and was armed with a 9mm pistol, but did not fire any shots, prosecutors said.

Bridges’ wife, Mary A. Faucett, is accused of getting Fernandez’s phone number and setting him up by calling him to meet at the apartments.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 9:04 PM with the headline "Murder suspect expected to hire new lawyer, seeks second opinion."