Pasco brothers will be tried together for October fatal shooting

Two brothers accused of killing a Pasco teen last year will now be tried together.

Superior Court Judge Carrie Runge on Wednesday signed an order joining the cases of Nathan T. Quintero and Jaden F. Quintero.

Franklin County prosecutors requested the move because their cases “clearly relate to the same incident.”

Nathan, 23, and Jaden, 18, each face one count of first-degree murder.

The Pasco pair allegedly shot George Garcia Thacker on Oct. 7 and left his body just a few feet from the victim’s car on West River Street, near the cable bridge.

Garcia Thacker was shot five times in the head and neck, possibly at close range with his own gun, according to court documents.

A witness reported seeing the Quinteros get into Garcia Thacker’s car a short time earlier, documents said.

“The allegations are that the two defendants were present together in an automobile along with the victim, at which time the victim was shot and killed,” Deputy Prosecutor Frank Jenny said in the motion. “While there is no direct eyewitness testimony as to which person pulled the trigger, it is alleged that both (brothers) were participants in the crime.”

The brothers were arrested Oct. 23 at a Walla Walla home after evading capture for two weeks.

In court Wednesday, Jenny said the pair invoked their right to remain silent and did not make any statements to law enforcement.

Scott Johnson, Jaden Quintero’s lawyer, and Ryan Swinburnson, who represents Nathan Quintero, both told the judge that case law is clear on the issue and they don’t object to the request.

“Given the factual nature of the case, I think it behooves Jaden to be tried with Nathan,” Johnson added.

Their trial is set for June 1.

In the meantime, they’re each being held on $1 million bail in the Franklin County jail.

This is the second slaying in Franklin County in which the suspects will be tried together.

Santos Flores-Alcaide and his nephew, Enrique Alcaide, face a June 27 trial for a shooting outside La Tropicana dance club that left Eduardo Angon Del Villar dead.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Pasco brothers will be tried together for October fatal shooting."