Suspect flees into wildlife refuge after two people shot dead in Lacey Thursday night
A 21-year-old Lacey resident was arrested early Friday morning in the fatal shooting of two people he lived with.
Officers were dispatched at around 9 p.m. Thursday to the 5400 block of 57th Loop Southeast after reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found two people dead, according to a Lacey Police Department news release.
Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said the victims were a 24-year-old woman who was seven months pregnant, and a 26-year-old man who was an active duty soldier at JBLM.
Officers interviewed witnesses, who said the suspect had driven away. His vehicle was later located by Olympia police officers traveling north on I-5. The suspect then drove into Billy Frank Jr. Wildlife Refuge and abandoned the car.
The Washington State Patrol Air unit and Thurston County SWAT were called in to help locate the suspect, who was hiding from police in the area.
He was arrested and booked into the Thurston County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder involving domestic violence, first-degree assault involving domestic violence, and attempted eluding. The arrest log has the suspect listed as an active duty military member as well.
Warnock said the identities of the two victims will be released at a later time. The incident is still being investigated by Lacey detectives.
This story was originally published June 21, 2024 at 9:37 AM.
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