19-year-old man who drowned at Pierce County lake identified by ME
A man who died after drowning in Spanaway Lake last month has been identified as 19-year-old Alexander Sherman, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Sherman was from Tacoma and died on Aug. 22 near the 15500 block of Bressmann Boulevard South. His cause and manner of death is listed as pending, the office wrote in a news release. That is a temporary designation used when additional information is required for certification.
A friend of Sherman’s reported him missing at 6:22 p.m. that day after the victim went underwater and needed help. Sherman and his friend had been swimming near the swimming area of Spanaway Lake Park. His friend said Sherman did not know how to swim but continued going further out where he could not touch the bottom, The News Tribune reported.
Sheriff’s Office marine services and dive teams searched the waters for Sherman and, in a 9:30 p.m. update, the Sheriff’s Office said it had recovered the victim and turned him over to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Sherman was described as “full of life and love,” according to a GoFundMe created to help his family with expenses, including funeral and memorial costs.
“He had a deep passion for diesel trucks, video games, and anime, and he always lit up when he was around the people he cared about,” the description of the fundraiser said. “Anyone who knew him would tell you that Alexander had a heart of gold; he truly would have given the shirt off his back to help someone in need, even a stranger. His kindness, humor, and loyalty touched everyone he met.”
