Man fatally shot in Tacoma before crashing into parked semi was trying to help gunman

A man who died after being shot and crashing into the back of a semi truck in Tacoma was trying to help the suspected gunman get his car back.

Jermaine Campbell, 36, was found dead in the front seat of his Ford Explorer March 12 after a passerby spotted the wreckage.

On Tuesday, Pierce County prosecutors charged Tobrondria Richardson, 24, with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and drive-by shooting.

He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held on $1 million bail.

Charging papers and police gave this account:

A security guard called 911 about 1:30 a.m. to report hearing five gunshots in the area and two men arguing.

Officers responded and found shattered glass and shell casings in the 3800 block of South Lawrence Street.

Although they did not find a victim, they did spot a Jetta Volkswagen registered to Richardson parked in the street and could see a loaded gun magazine inside.

As police were peering into the vehicle’s window, somebody used a remote lock on the vehicle.

About 3 p.m., detectives were called two blocks away to a Ford Explorer that had crashed into the back of a parked semi-trailer. Inside was Campbell, who died of a gunshot wound to his chest.

Police immediately suspected Campbell had been shot at the other scene and driven two blocks before crashing.

Officers returned to the shooting scene, but the Jetta was gone.

Investigators reviewed several surveillance cameras and dashboard cameras in the area to piece together the happenings of that night.

The footage showed headlights speeding north on South Lawrence Street, followed five seconds later by a second set of headlights. A gunshot can be heard, then a person can be seen stepping in front of a moving car, and four more gunshots.

The Explorer “appeared to lurch somewhat between shots” before driving away, prosecutors wrote in charging papers.

Witnesses said the Jetta was speeding and swerving, almost striking their parked van, before making a U-turn down the street and again passing them with the Explorer not far behind.

As the Jetta stopped at a traffic signal, the Explorer stopped in the road and someone allegedly got out of the SUV.

The witnesses said that person shot at the Jetta, then shot at the Explorer until it drove off.

The gunman allegedly walked toward a parking lot and could be heard arguing with someone.

Surveillance footage from a nearby apartment complex showed Richardson and a 22-year-old woman.

Richardson’s ID was allegedly found in the lobby bathroom of the complex, and several people recognized the woman in the footage.

Campbell’s girlfriend later told police she’d received a phone call from someone claiming the woman had set Campbell up.

Someone else allegedly claimed Campbell owed the woman money.

Detectives put out a bulletin to local law enforcement for the Jetta, Richardson and the woman.

On Sunday, police found the car parked at an apartment complex in Kent and took Richardson and the woman into custody.

The woman, who has not been charged in the homicide, told police she’d been drinking with Richardson and Campbell in the car and had no idea Campbell was shot.

Richardson initially claimed he was in Campbell’s SUV when he heard gunshots, so he got out and ran.

“When confronted with the video evidence of the incident, Richardson confessed to the shooting,” records say.

He told investigators the woman “attacked him” and tried to take the gun from his waistband and when she was unsuccessful, got in Richardson’s car and drove off.

Campbell was driving Richardson around trying to help retrieve the vehicle.

When they spotted the Jetta, Richardson said he got out of Campbell’s Explorer and started shooting at the woman who’d taken his Jetta.

“He walked in front of the SUV and while still shooting he said the SUV lurched forward a couple of times and bumped him,” records say. “When he got to the side of the car he was still shooting when Campbell drove off. Richardson stated he did not mean to shoot Campbell.”

The gun used in the homicide has not been located.

Richardson told police it was at a Kent apartment, but the woman who lived there said “she does not allow guns there and never saw either one of them with a gun while they were there,” according to charging papers.

Prosecutors said they might file additional charges as the investigation continues.

This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 6:13 AM.