Two plead guilty in Seattle gang slayings

Published 9:00 pm Friday, August 10, 2001

Associated Press

SEATTLE — Two men who were arrested in a gang-related shooting death in the International District have pleaded guilty and will face prison time under agreements with King County prosecutors.

Emmanuel Grande-Martinez, 22, of Renton, gave an account of a shooting Sept. 24 and two others in which a total of two people died and four were injured, prosecutors said.

He and Elmer Cisneros-Alvarado, 20, pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder charges in the death of Jorge Temblador-Topete, 22, on Sept. 24, and John Diklich, 18, a day earlier.

Cisneros-Alvarado entered an Alford plea, meaning he did not directly admit guilt but conceded a jury would likely convict him of if the case went to trial.

Temblador-Topete was killed as the two men went looking for rival gang members to attack in retaliation for the wounding of someone in their own gang, Grande-Martinez told investigators.

Prosecutors are recommending nearly 42 years in prison for Grande-Martinez and about 30 years for Cisneros-Alvarado. They face sentencing in September.

Grande-Martinez is an illegal immigrant who has been deported four times, according to documents filed in Superior Court.

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