Third man sentenced in 2014 Lacey murder

Eric T. Adamczewski, 21, will serve a 12-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree robbery Thursday in Thurston County Superior Court.

Adamczewski is the third defendant to be sentenced for the Jan. 22, 2014 shooting death of Daniel Smith in a Lacey parking lot. Adamczewski and his co-defendants had initially been charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree attempted robbery.

Ryan S. Anderson was the first to take advantage of a plea deal. He pleaded guilty last June to second-degree robbery in juvenile court, and was sentenced to a minimum of three years in custody.

Stephen Pettit entered guilty pleas to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree robbery on May 12 and was sentenced by Judge Gary Tabor to 12 years in prison.

The remaining two suspects, 19-year-old Ronny G. McDaniel and 18-year-old Nicholas Armajo, were scheduled to stand trial next week, but attorneys from both sides asked Judge Anne Hirsch to postpone the trial to the week of Sept. 8.

During Adamczewski’s Thursday sentencing, Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Graham said Smith’s death was the result of a botched robbery.

“(Adamczewski) was part of a group that would engage in thefts of drugs from dealers,” Graham said.

He and attorney Robert Quillian, who represents Adamczewski, told Judge James Dixon that the 12-year sentence — an exceptional sentence for first-degree manslaughter — was a joint recommendation.

Dixon approved the recommended 12-year sentence, and showed Adamczewski photos of Smith and his two daughters.

“Need I say more?” Dixon asked. “Anything that I would say, Mr. Adamczewski would pale in comparison to what I just showed you.”

Ava Ruelos, Smith’s mother-in-law, said that her daughter and granddaughters are still recovering from the death of their husband and father. She said that one of the girls doesn’t remember her father, and the older girl still asks for him and wonders why he died.

According to court documents, the suspects met Smith at an apartment complex and Pettit, McDaniel, Adamczewski and Armajo got out of their vehicle and approached Smith’s car. They asked Smith to show them the marijuana, and Smith asked them to show him their money.

McDaniel pulled out a gun and pointed it at Smith, who started to drive away. He fired, hitting Smith in the shoulder.

A short time later, a man came and picked up McDaniel and Armajo. They were found the next day in Idaho, in a vehicle being driven by McDaniel’s mother, Robin Mena. The other three suspects were arrested at the scene.

This story was originally published May 28, 2015 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Third man sentenced in 2014 Lacey murder."