2 Men Arrested for First Degree Murder in Richland Homicide

Arrested:  Hunt, Joshua H., 19 year of age male, Richland Resident

Arrested:  Young, John C., 18 year of age male, Richland Resident

Charge:  Murder in the First Degree

Victim:  Snapp, Joshua J., 17 year of age male, Richland Resident

Synopsis:

On July 4, 2013 Joshua Hunt and John Young lured Joshua Snapp to Beardsley Rd off of SR 240 with the pretext of smoking marijuana.  Once at the location Hunt and Young confronted Snapp about being an informant and money the victim owed to Hunt.  After the confrontation Hunt and Young shot the victim in the chest and the head. 

The suspects then drove to the Benton City area where they put several items into a back pack and threw them into the Yakima River.  Young contacted the clerk at the Conoco convenience store and asked her to call 911.  Benton County deputies arrived and took the two into custody.

Richland Police and Benton County SO located the body of Snapp in the desert off of Beardsely Rd.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

After consultation with the Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller, the two suspects were booked into the Benton County Jail on charges of Murder in the First Degree.

The investigation is continuing.  Updates will be published as additional information becomes available.

Media contacts may call Capt. Mike Cobb, 531-6604, with questions.  July 5-7 questions will need to be directed to Sgt. Kevin Berger, 528-0429.