Brother sought in fatal shooting at Tacoma gas station turns self in

A man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting at a Tacoma gasoline station turned himself in to police in California late Wednesday.

A warrant was issued Wednesday for Rashaad Grott, 22, after he was charged with first-degree rendering criminal assistance for allegedly driving his brother out of the state.

His brother Robert Grott, 29, is charged with first-degree murder for Monday’s fatal shooting of Julian “Jay” Thomas at an Arco station on Center Street.

Robert Grott has not been found and the Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking for him. Grott is also wanted on a federal warrant for fleeing to avoid prosecution, the FBI said.

Rashaad Grott surrendered to police in West Hollywood and will be brought back to Pierce County.

The brothers traveled to Los Angeles together, the FBI said, and Robert Grott spent the night at a downtown-area hotel Tuesday.

The motive for the shooting appeared to be a months-old dispute about a missing handgun, according to court records.

It is unclear how Robert Grott knew Thomas was at the gasoline station, but witnesses told police Grott showed up on a skateboard about 12:30 p.m., approached the Chevrolet Impala sedan that Thomas was sitting in and opened fire.

Thomas, 23, was shot 10 times.

Police said 46 rounds were fired, several of which hit and shattered the front glass of an AM-PM convenience store at the gasoline station. Nobody inside was hurt.

Robert Grott was identified as the suspected attacker after Tacoma police released a photograph from the gasoline station showing the back of the gunman.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Brother sought in fatal shooting at Tacoma gas station turns self in."