He died after bumming a cigarette. Homeless man charged with murder after knife found in tent

LaMont Rushton died smoking a cigarette, and Tacoma police don’t know why.

But they think they know who did it.

On Monday, 29-year-old Iralee James was charged with second-degree murder.

James pleaded not guilty at arraignment, and former Pierce County Superior Court Judge Katherine Stolz, filling in on a temporary basis, set bail at $1 million.

James was arrested Saturday at a homeless camp after detectives identified him as a suspect using surveillance footage from the day Rushton died.

Charging papers give this account:

Rushton, 44, approached a man on his cigarette break near South 26th and South A streets Thursday night and asked for a smoke.

The stranger obliged, then started walking back to work.

At some point he heard yelling and turned around, spotting Rushton sitting on the ground and saying, “Please don’t,” records say.

The witness assumed Rushton was refusing to fight the other man, who was 30 feet away from Rushton and pointing in his direction.

Although Rushton called to the witness for help, the witness initially ignored him because he didn’t realize Rushton was injured.

Once Rushton followed him across the street and begged him to call 911, the witness did so. Fellow employees started CPR and tried to provide medical aid to Rushton until paramedics arrived.

Rushton was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center, where he died a half hour later.

He suffered stab wounds to the chest, stomach and leg.

Police did a K9 track in the area but were unable to find the suspect.

Eventually detectives spoke with two witnesses who told them where James was earlier in the night, and the investigators obtained surveillance footage to identify him.

A large knife was found in James’ tent, records say.

No motive was given.

Rushton’s aunt, Sally Manukia, told reporters outside court Monday that she did not recognize James.

“He loved everybody,” she said of Rushton. “I couldn’t imagine him doing anything to deserve this. I just want answers.”

She said she helped babysit Rushton, known as “Monte” when he was growing up in University Place, and that he tagged along when she was part of the Curtis High School bowling team.

He’s survived by a son who is about six and is being raised by Rushton’s mother, Manukia said.

She said her nephew was homeless, that he struggled with a drinking problem and that he recently told her he wanted his son back.

He was thinking about working as a fisherman in Alaska to earn a living, she said.

This story was originally published December 17, 2018 at 1:51 PM.