Reservation Shooter Sentenced To 12 Years In Federal Prison

PORTLAND, OR — A California man was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison on Thursday for his role in a gang-related shooting at the Umatilla Indian Reservation in March 2016. Another man involved in the shooting pleaded guilty in October 2017 and was sentenced to 25 years.

Victor Joseph Contreras, 23, of Fresno, California, and Julian Darryl James Simpson, 25, reportedly attended a party on the reservation March 19, 2016. While there, the pair apparently got into an argument with other partygoers — who were also suspected gang members.

Ultimately, Contreras and Simpson were asked to leave.

As the party ended and others began leaving, Contreras and Simpson reportedly opened fire on the crowd with semiautomatic pistols. One of Simpson's shots hit one man in the back of the head. Contreras, who fired more than 20 rounds of his own, hit at least one person just above the ankle.

The man Simpson shot died later at hospital.

Contreras and Simpson both fled the scene of the shooting, but Contreras was arrested shortly afterward. Simpson was found in Lewiston, Idaho, about a week later; he still had the gun he'd used to kill the man at the party.

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Simpson pleaded guilty to murder on Oct. 27, 2017. Contreras pleaded guilty to assault and possession of a firearm on July 5, 2017.

Both Contreras and Simpson, at the conclusion of their sentences, will have another 5 years of supervised parole.

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