Man, 58, arrested for murder of Gig Harbor woman, deputies say
A 58-year-old Gig Harbor man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder Saturday night after he shot and killed his 76-year-old female neighbor, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
The suspect ultimately was found and taken into custody in the area of the Les Davis Pier in Tacoma, the department announced in a news release and on social media.
According to the Sheriff’s Department:
Early Saturday evening, multiple people called 911 to report the shooting. Deputies responded to the 6500 block of Valley View Drive Northwest in Gig Harbor. About 7:20 p.m., the woman was found dead with gunshot wounds inside her home.
About 9 p.m., Tacoma police found the suspect’s vehicle in the parking area for the Les Davis Pier. Thirty-minutes later, the man was spotted walking in the area and was taken into custody and booked into the Pierce County Jail.
Detectives have since learned that prior to the shooting, the man was contacted by what the department describes as “mental health co-responders.” The suspect apparently believed his neighbor was setting up devices to scare off wildlife.
Deputies later visited the man’s home about 3:15 p.m. Saturday, but he did not answer the door and could not be found. About 90 minutes later, the first witness called to report the shooting.
