Yakima, WA – April 2025 – An 18-year-old gang associate has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison following a dangerous high-speed police chase across multiple Washington towns, during which he fired a modified Glock handgun from a moving vehicle.
Angel Omar Zuniga-Soriano was convicted of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and received a 144-month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Mary K. Dimke. In addition, he was sentenced to three years of supervised release, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
On June 29, 2024, Zuniga-Soriano was driving a vehicle linked to a robbery in Wapato, Washington, when officers attempted to stop him in Toppenish. Instead, he initiated a pursuit, reaching speeds exceeding 100 mph along the busy Interstate corridor between Toppenish, Sunnyside, and Zillah. During the chase, he fired a shot out of the driver’s window.
The pursuit ended in a Zillah convenience store parking lot, where police immobilized his vehicle by ramming it. Despite injuries to a Toppenish Police Department sergeant, Zuniga-Soriano fled on foot, discarding a Glock pistol—later found to be illegally modified with a “Glock switch” to function as an automatic weapon. He was ultimately tackled and arrested in a nearby field.
Court records show the seized weapon had a high-capacity magazine and was capable of fully automatic fire. A subsequent FBI test confirmed it could discharge multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.
During interrogation, Zuniga-Soriano made erratic and contradictory claims—first suggesting he accidentally fired the gun during a suicide attempt, then saying he had blacked out due to marijuana use. He admitted to gang associations and bizarre past behavior, including animal cruelty, which the court cited as part of a disturbing behavioral pattern.
Judge Dimke emphasized the extreme danger posed by Zuniga-Soriano’s actions and noted it was his third firearms-related conviction, despite his age. His past criminal history and the seriousness of the current case influenced the length of the sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker praised the restraint and courage of officers involved in the case. “Had it not been for a Toppenish sergeant who put his own life on the line, this chase could have ended in tragedy for innocent bystanders,” he said. Barker also commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Hanlon for leading the prosecution.
FBI Special Agent W. Mike Herrington, whose agency leads the Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force, added, “It is amazing more people weren’t hurt. This sentence reflects the serious threat Mr. Zuniga-Soriano posed to the public.”
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, Toppenish Police Department, and others across Southeast Washington.
For further details, refer to the official release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Washington (April 2025).
