FERNDALE, Wash. — Miguel Angel Miranda, age 24, submitted a plea of guilty in Whatcom County Superior Court earlier this month to charges of 2nd degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and witness tampering. The charges followed a shooting in Ferndale back in January.
Prosecutors are asking that Miranda be sentenced to 16 years in custody on the murder charge and 1 year each on the remaining 2 charges, all to be served concurrently, followed by 3 years in community custody. Paying resititution over $11,000 is also being recommended.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 10th.
Miranda has a prior felony conviction for attempted rendering criminal assistance.
Shortly after midnight on January 23rd, Ferndale Police responded to a report of a shooting at a large party at a rental venue. Responding officers located a victim on the ground outside who had sustained 2 gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to the hospital where they later died.
Miranda was arrested Friday, January 28th, in Phoenix, Arizona after a vehicle he was believed to be in was identified by an automated license plate reader camera outside of Kingsman, Arizona, which then alerted the Ferndale Police Department of its location.