William Luquin Xhurape, a 34-year-old resident of Omak, Washington, has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to the charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. This sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. The decision was handed down by United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice.
The incident leading to this conviction occurred on April 1, 2024. According to court documents and statements made during the sentencing hearing, Xhurape, who is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his status as a convicted felon, discharged a .22 caliber handgun six times into the ground outside a trailer on the Colville Reservation. He then aimed the firearm at an individual inside the trailer and fired two shots, which fortunately missed as the person managed to move out of harm’s way.
Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker acknowledged the collaborative efforts involved in handling this case: “I am grateful for the excellent partnership between the FBI, Tribal Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office on this case,” he stated. “When we share information and work together, we can achieve so much in our efforts toward public safety within Eastern Washington’s incredible Native American nations and communities.”
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office, emphasized the gravity of Xhurape’s actions: “As a convicted felon, Mr. Xhurape was well aware of the consequences of possessing a firearm,” he said. “His reckless use of a weapon nearly ended in tragedy, and I am thankful no one was injured. The FBI and our partners continue to strive together towards making our state’s tribal lands a safer place.”
The investigation was conducted by both the FBI and the Colville Tribal Police Department, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Ellis.
