All suspects connected to violent ‘Jungle’ assault now in custody, Olympia police say
All suspects connected with a woman’s assault at the homeless encampment known as the Jungle are in custody, according to Olympia police.
Six people have been arrested, Lt. Paul Lower said Tuesday.
The police originally identified seven people thought to have been involved in the crime, including a woman, 45, considered to be a person of interest. Police since have determined she did not have a role in the assault, Lower said.
The two remaining suspects were arrested on June 26 and June 27.
On June 26, police formed an enforcement team and entered the Jungle — a forested area between Martin Way East and Pacific Avenue Southeast near Interstate 5 — where they arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of multiple crimes, Lower said.
A day later, a second man, 29, was booked on suspicion of multiple crimes after police spotted him riding a bicycle on the city’s west side, Lower said.
The 35-year old man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree assault, felony harassment and unlawful imprisonment.
The 29-year-old man was booked on first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, second-degree malicious mischief, first-degree burglary, felony harassment and unlawful imprisonment.
According to The Olympian’s previous reporting, about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, police were dispatched to the 3200 block of Martin Way East after several 911 callers reported seeing a woman bleeding as she walked down Martin Way.
Police contacted her and she was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Police began to investigate and learned that the 38-year-old victim had gone to the Jungle to return a bicycle to a friend. As she did, she was surrounded by seven people who accused her of being connected to an overdose death, Lower said.
They then began to beat the woman, according to police. A man reportedly pulled out a handgun, pointed it at her head and face and pulled the trigger multiple times. He then hit her with the butt of the gun, Lower said.
Two women, including a 30-year-old accused of first-degree attempted murder, are accused of hitting the woman with a bat, Lower said.
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 10:31 AM with the headline "All suspects connected to violent ‘Jungle’ assault now in custody, Olympia police say."
