A Canyon County judge has sentenced a Nampa man to at least 30 years in prison for the 2022 gang-related murder of an innocent bystander outside a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant. Third Judicial District Judge Gabriel McCarthy imposed the fixed minimum sentence on Brian Moreno, who was convicted earlier this year of first-degree murder with a gang enhancement in the death of Joe Flores.
Innocent Bystander Killed in Gang Dispute
According to court records and statements made during sentencing, Flores had no gang ties and was not involved in the confrontation that led to his death. Moreno shot Flores in the back while Flores stood outside the Nampa restaurant during a gang-related dispute. A Canyon County jury returned a guilty verdict on the first-degree murder charge, with jurors also finding the gang enhancement allegation to be true.
The Flores family delivered emotional victim impact statements at Friday’s sentencing hearing. Flores’ father, Martin Flores Sr., spoke directly to the judge about the permanent toll of his son’s killing. “This man ruined our lives, for the rest of our lives,” he told the court. Flores’ brother Chris addressed Moreno without restraint, calling him “a rat” and “a cancer to society.” A second brother, Martin Flores Jr., also addressed the court.
Prosecution Sought Life Without Parole
Canyon County Prosecutor Chris Boyd argued for a life sentence without any possibility of parole, citing the need to protect both the Flores family and the broader Nampa community from any future threat posed by Moreno. “Give them the certainty that this will never happen again,” Boyd said, “not in our community, and not on our watch.”
Boyd also recognized the investigative work that brought the case to conviction, specifically thanking Nampa Police Department Detective Matt Richardson for his persistence throughout the investigation.
Defense attorney Jay Kiiha urged the court to show leniency, pointing to the negative influences of Moreno’s gang upbringing and raising practical concerns about the long-term cost of housing an inmate for life. Kiiha asked that Moreno be given parole eligibility after 20 years. Judge McCarthy’s sentence of 30 years before parole eligibility fell between the two positions.
Impact on Canyon County Residents
The 2022 shooting rattled Nampa residents and drew attention to gang activity in Canyon County’s largest city. The case is among several high-profile incidents involving violence near public businesses in the Treasure Valley. A separate civil matter related to a shooting involving a Nampa teenager remains ongoing — the family in that case is seeking $10 million from the city of Nampa and police — underscoring ongoing community concern about public safety in the area.
What Comes Next
Moreno will serve out his minimum term in the Idaho Department of Correction before becoming eligible to seek parole. Under the sentence imposed by Judge McCarthy, that eligibility would not arise for three decades. The Flores family, while denied the finality of a life-without-parole ruling, now has the assurance that Moreno will remain incarcerated for at least 30 years.
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