Lakewood homicide suspect arrested in south Thurston County

A suspect in a Lakewood homicide surrendered himself to deputies in south Thurston County Wednesday afternoon, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The 40-year-old Rochester man is suspected of fatally shooting Oral Roy Rhoden, 32, who was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest at an apartment complex in Lakewood and dropped off at St. Clare Hospital earlier this month.

The Feb. 2 shooting is believed to have stemmed from a drug deal the suspected gunman is believed to have arranged.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office was assisting the Lakewood Police Department with apprehending the man who was at a home in the 4800 block of 176th Avenue Southwest, near the South Sound Speedway, Lt. Ray Brady told The Olympian.

Law enforcement believed the suspect was armed and barricaded in the residence, which prompted the activation of the county SWAT team, Brady said. Before the team arrived at the home, though, the suspect came out and gave himself up to police.

He was taken into custody about 4:30 p.m., according to Brady.

“Once he knew they were there, he basically gave himself up,” Brady said. “It was pretty uneventful, which is good.”

The man was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder and was expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon.

This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 8:32 AM with the headline "Lakewood homicide suspect arrested in south Thurston County."