TOPPENISH – Toppenish police have arrested a 20 year-old Hispanic man and a 21-year-old Hispanic woman in connection with the gang-related shooting deaths of two Hispanic males March 5.
Toppenish Police Chief Adam Diaz said Monday that Israel Diaz, 21, and Estevan Silva, Jr., 17, were shot at about 11 p.m. near the intersection of Buena Way and Washington, when they and other individuals were standing on the street and were approached by a dark, four-door passenger car.
After words were exchanged, the passenger in the vehicle opened fire. 
Diaz, no relation to the police chief, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime, and Silva died several hours later at a Yakima hospital.
Chief Diaz did not release the names of the two suspects that were arrested, however, the man was identified as a Buena resident and the woman as a resident of the Wapato area.
“We do know it was gang-related,” Diaz said. “Gang membership was disclosed before the shooting took place.”
He also said evidence and information gathered during the investigation led police to believe that the woman suspect was driving the vehicle.
Included in the evidence police gathered was the suspected murder weapon, according to a police report.
The male suspect was charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of first degree assault.
The female suspect was charged as a conspirator in the commission of those crimes.
Diaz said he feared that the shootings would result in more gang-related violence.
“It’s very likely there will be retribution,” Diaz said.
He said that, based on the evidence gathered, he is confident that the persons responsible for the shooting have been apprehended.
“We’re glad we were able to take the individuals into custody,” said Diaz.
The incident marked the second and third homicide of the year in Toppenish.