New details have emerged about a fatal shooting in a Federal Way shopping center parking lot the night before Thanksgiving, with court records indicating the confrontation arose from a dispute over a stolen firearm.
The incident unfolded Wednesday evening around 10:17 p.m. in the parking lot of The Commons at Federal Way. According to initial police investigation documents, two brothers confronted a 26-year-old Fall City man they accused of stealing their grandfather’s gun.
Court filings reveal the brothers pursued the victim through the parking lot, leading to a physical confrontation. The younger brother, an 18-year-old, ultimately admitted to shooting the victim during the struggle, telling investigators he feared for his older brother’s safety during the altercation.
Trever Jones was working nearby when he learned about the shooting shortly after leaving the area. “Just shocked, sad for the people involved,” Jones said, expressing dismay that such violence occurred in a familiar shopping district.
The sequence of events painted by police reports suggests a planned confrontation rather than a chance encounter. The brothers told investigators they tracked down the victim to recover the allegedly stolen weapon, choosing to confront him in the public parking lot rather than involving law enforcement.
After the shooting, one of the brothers took the victim’s keys from his pocket as he lay mortally wounded on the pavement, according to police records. The brother then unlocked the victim’s vehicle and retrieved what they claimed was their grandfather’s gun.
The brazen nature of this action, taking place while the victim was dying, shocked investigators and added theft charges to the potential criminal counts the brothers could face. Removing property from an incapacitated person demonstrates a level of premeditation or callousness that could influence prosecutorial decisions.
An officer already patrolling The Commons area spotted the brothers attempting to leave the scene and quickly initiated a pursuit. The officer’s proximity allowed for rapid apprehension of both suspects before they could flee the area, a fortunate circumstance that prevented what could have become a more complex investigation.
Alyssa Swimcicki, shopping at The Commons on Friday, expressed surprise at the violence. “I’m shocked that something like that would happen,” she said. “Just so close, really, it’s pretty early for something like that to happen, too.”
The timing reference likely refers both to the early evening hour when many families were present and to the holiday eve timing, when shopping centers typically see increased foot traffic from people preparing for Thanksgiving gatherings.
The 18-year-old suspect refused to appear at his initial court hearing, exercising his right to waive the proceeding. Despite his absence, a judge reviewed the evidence presented by prosecutors and found probable cause to hold him in custody on murder charges.
The Fall City victim’s identity has not been publicly released pending family notification, though court documents confirm his age and residence. His connection to the brothers and the circumstances under which he allegedly obtained their grandfather’s gun remain unclear from available records.
Jones, reflecting on the tragedy, noted the human cost regardless of the circumstances. “It’s heartbreaking for the families, no matter what they’re into, it could’ve been a good person, someone into something not good, but any death is just sad,” he said.
The suspect is scheduled to return to court Saturday afternoon for a bail hearing. Prosecutors will argue whether he should be held without bail given the severity of charges and potential flight risk, while defense attorneys may present mitigating circumstances or argue for release conditions.
Washington law distinguishes between different degrees of homicide based on premeditation and circumstances. The fact that the brothers pursued the victim to recover property, then engaged in a confrontation that ended in shooting, could support first-degree murder charges if prosecutors determine the shooting was premeditated.
Alternatively, if evidence supports the shooter’s claim that he fired out of fear for his brother during a physical struggle, charges could be reduced to second-degree murder or manslaughter. The presence of a stolen gun and the brothers’ decision to pursue the victim rather than call police will likely work against any self-defense claims.
The status of the older brother remains unclear from court documents. He could face charges as an accomplice to murder, or for theft if prosecutors determine his removal of property from the dying victim constituted a separate criminal act.
The Commons at Federal Way, a popular shopping destination, has seen previous incidents but nothing approaching this level of violence in recent memory. The mall’s proximity to major roadways and its large parking lot make it a challenging location for security personnel to monitor comprehensively.
