The Tacoma Police Department says an adult male turned himself in claiming involvement in the shooting of a 14-year-old boy in the head Friday afternoon, which left the teen in critical condition.
A department spokesperson said the man surrendered at police headquarters Friday night and was initially booked for first-degree assault. After the teenager died from his injuries later Friday night, authorities upgraded the booking to first-degree murder.
Jail records show a 42-year-old man was booked into the Pierce County Jail within the last 24 hours for both first-degree assault, with a $500,000 cash or bail bond, and first-degree murder.
Witnesses at the scene found the boy with a gunshot wound to the side of his head in the driver’s seat of a Kia SUV at the intersection of McKinley Avenue and East 64th Street in Tacoma Friday afternoon.
A business owner said they saw four people run from the SUV on security camera footage after a gunshot was fired.
TPD had no one in custody as of Friday afternoon and had no description for a suspect or suspects at that time.
The department made the announcement Saturday just before 6:45 p.m. in a post to social media, revealing the teen had died and a potential suspect had turned himself in.
The surrender represents an unusual development in the case, as suspects in fatal shootings rarely turn themselves in voluntarily without arrest warrants being issued.
The 14-year-old’s presence in the driver’s seat raises questions about why someone so young was operating a vehicle. Washington law prohibits individuals under 16 from driving except under specific permit conditions with licensed adults present.
The four individuals fleeing the scene on security footage suggests multiple people were present during the shooting. Investigators will work to identify these individuals and determine their roles in the incident.
The business owner’s security camera footage provides crucial evidence documenting immediate aftermath of the shooting. Video showing people fleeing could help identify additional suspects or witnesses.
The initial first-degree assault charge reflects the serious injuries the teenager sustained. Washington law defines first-degree assault as intentionally inflicting great bodily harm, which a gunshot to the head certainly constitutes.
The upgrade to first-degree murder following the victim’s death demonstrates how charges escalate when injuries prove fatal. Prosecutors now must prove the suspect intended to cause death or acted with extreme indifference to human life.
The $500,000 bail amount for the assault charge indicates judicial assessment of high flight risk or danger to the community. First-degree murder typically carries no bail or extremely high amounts given the severity.
The 42-year-old suspect’s age, 28 years older than the victim, raises questions about their relationship. Investigators will examine whether they knew each other and what circumstances led to the shooting.
The McKinley Avenue and East 64th Street location places the shooting in a mixed residential and commercial area of Tacoma. The Friday afternoon timing means the incident occurred in daylight with potential witnesses.
The fact that TPD had no suspect description Friday afternoon suggests witnesses either did not see the shooting clearly or were unwilling to provide detailed information to police initially.
The Saturday evening announcement gave the department time to process the surrender, upgrade charges, and coordinate with prosecutors about appropriate charges given the victim’s death.
The teenager’s death transforms the investigation from assault to homicide, bringing additional investigative resources and prosecutorial attention. Homicide cases receive intensive focus given their severity.
