Tacoma shooting that killed woman, injured man stemmed from meth deal, records say
A Tacoma woman fatally shot in her home was killed during a botched methamphetamine deal, according to court documents.
Kelsea Carlson, 28, died Friday of two gunshot wounds in the 1400 block of South Union Street.
Her 33-year-old fiance was shot twice in the leg.
After undergoing surgery, he was released from the hospital.
On Thursday, Pierce County prosecutors charged Douglas Dunlap, 28; Tabby Thomas, 22; and Mitchell Nichols, 28, with first-degree murder and first-degree assault.
Police said Dunlap was the gunman and Thomas arranged the drug deal.
All three entered not guilty pleas.
Thomas was ordered jailed in lieu of $300,000. Dunlap and Nichols are being held on $1 million each.
Charging papers give this account:
Officers were dispatched to the home Carlson shared with her fiance about 11:45 p.m. Friday after an out of breath man called 911, gave their address and asked police to “hurry up.”
When police arrived, they found the man limping on the sidewalk outside his home.
He directed officers to Carlson, who was found dead inside.
Her fiance initially told detectives he was sleeping on the couch and awakened by gunshots and three intruders in his home.
After a witness told police he’d been with the couple earlier to buy and use meth, Carlson’s fiance admitted the shooting stemmed from a drug deal.
Carlson allegedly bought a half pound of meth and logged onto her father’s social media account to find someone looking to buy drugs. (Carlson’s father is in prison for unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.)
She found Thomas and the two exchanged messages, with Thomas agreeing to come to Carlson’s home.
Surveillance video from the couple’s home shows Thomas, Nichols and Dunlap arrive and be allowed inside. It shows the three leave the home later, with Thomas carrying something and Dunlap holding a gun.
Nichols’ cell phone allegedly was found inside Carlson’s house.
During the drug deal, Nichols allegedly said, “Something’s not right,” prompting Dunlap to pull out a pistol and point it at Carlson and her fiance.
The fiance said he “rolled to his left and tried to cover Carlson to protect her, and he then heard gunshots and felt himself get hit,” records say.
He tried to tackle Dunlap as the suspects fled but was unable to hold him.
On Wednesday, detectives discovered Dunlap was staying at a Graham home and took him into custody.
He declined to speak with detectives, but ammunition matching the gun used in the shooting was allegedly found in his room.
Thomas and Nichols were arrested in a vehicle shortly afterward.
They both admitted being present for the drug deal and shooting.
“Both Thomas and Nichols denied knowing that Dunlap was armed, and both denied knowing that he was going to shoot the victims,” prosecutors wrote in charging papers.
Carlson leaves behind her young daughter, Harper.
In a statement, her family said Carlson was a wonderful mother and good friend.
“Kelsea was love. She was light, even in the midst of chaos,” according to the statement. “Kelsea loved with everything she had and made sure that you knew how important you were to her. There was never any chance to second guess her feelings. Knowing her, loving her, made life brighter.”
A GoFundMe account has been set up to pay for her funeral expenses.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 1:06 PM.
