Oak Harbor man convicted of Mount Vernon drive-by murder, jury finds

A jury in Skagit County convicted Jose M. Lozano Jr. of second-degree murder and a related drive-by shooting for the March 17 killing of 18-year-old Alan Noel Mora-Gomez at a gas station on East College Way in Mount Vernon. Skagit County Superior Court records show the conviction followed an investigation that tied a vehicle to the scene and led to arrests in Oak Harbor and Everett.

The shooting occurred at about 11:40 p.m. on March 17, when officers responded to reports of multiple gunshots in the 2200 block of East College Way near North LaVenture Road. Mora-Gomez was taken to Harborview Medical Center and later died of his injuries. An autopsy found multiple gunshot wounds and noted that his leg was broken in a manner consistent with being run over by a vehicle.

Investigators used surveillance footage to identify and track the vehicle believed to be involved. The vehicle was located in Everett, and subsequent arrest activity took place in Oak Harbor. Law enforcement sources say a coordinated operation involving tactical units and crisis negotiators led to multiple arrests; public records and media accounts differ on whether that operation occurred in April 2024 or in early April 2025, and court records should be consulted for exact dates.

Two Oak Harbor residents previously pleaded guilty in related court proceedings. Jesus M. Angel II, who was 17 at the time of the shooting and was charged as an adult, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years in confinement after a Nov. 18 hearing. Robert J. Lozano, 23, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and first-degree criminal assistance and received a sentence of four years and six months. Booking records show the juvenile suspect was held in Skagit County juvenile detention and the adult arrestee was booked into the Skagit County Jail; a judge set $1 million bail for the 21-year-old in pretrial proceedings.

Mount Vernon Police have said the suspects fled the scene before officers arrived and that evidence gathered during the investigation supported arrest warrants. Police continue to investigate the case; Lt. Dave Shackleton said the suspects taken into custody in Oak Harbor were facing charges related to second-degree murder. Authorities encourage anyone with information to contact the 24-hour Skagit dispatch line at 360-428-3211 or the Mount Vernon Police Department at 360-336-6271.

The verdict closes one phase of a case that exposed intersections of youth involvement, firearms, and interjurisdictional policing across Island and Skagit counties. A sentencing date for Jose M. Lozano Jr. has yet to be set, and the outcome is likely to shape prosecutorial decisions and community calls for violence prevention resources in the months ahead.