Man charged in Elijah Crawford’s death held on $1 million bail

The man accused of killing a popular Tacoma teenager was ordered jailed Tuesday in lieu of $1 million bail.

Alberto Colt-Sarmiento, 22, previously was charged with first-degree murder in the Nov. 2 death of Elijah Crawford, 18. Colt-Sarmiento had been on the run after the shooting but was arrested in Centralia on Monday and brought back to Tacoma for arraignment.

A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf in Superior Court.

Crawford, a recent graduate of Lincoln High School, was shot to death in the 1800 block of East 44th Street.

Evidence, including Facebook posts, indicates Colt-Sarmiento arranged to meet one of Crawford’s friends there to fight him. Crawford and another friend went along to observe, court records show.

When they arrived, a man wearing a bandana over his face opened fire, fatally wounding Crawford and also injuring one of his friends.

Colt-Sarmiento has denied being the gunman, but Crawford’s aunt, Bridget Hamblin, said outside court Tuesday that she thinks he’s lying.

“Of course he would say that,” Hamblin said.

Deputy prosecutor Greg Greer said in court that Colt-Sarmiento, who is thought to have ties to a local street gang, could face additional charges as the investigation unfolds.

Crawford was a well-liked student at Lincoln High, where he was known as a hardworking student and wrestler.

His mother, Debbye Crawford, said outside court Tuesday she’s glad Colt-Sarmiento is in custody but that it does little to lessen the pain of losing her son.

“There’s never going to be any solace in this, ever,” she said. “The only solace I’m ever going to have in this is continuing his legacy, continuing his name.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Man charged in Elijah Crawford’s death held on $1 million bail."