Teenager charged with murder in Ruston Way shooting that killed 23-year-old man

Troy Lee Justice Jr. was arraigned in Pierce County Superior Court on Wednesday in connection with the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Benito Juarez earlier this month on Tacoma’s Ruston Way.

Justice Jr., 17, is charged as an adult with first and second-degree murder.

Judge Clarence Henderson Jr. set bail at $1 million. Henderson said there is enough evidence to find probable cause.

Attorney Michael Moreno from the Department of Assigned Counsel represented Justice Jr. on Wednesday. Moreno entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the defendant.

The shooting happened in the early morning of July 11 in the 3900 block of Ruston Way.

Pierce County deputy prosecutors wrote in a declaration for probable cause that members of two street gangs were present at the time of the shooting.

Video footage shows two groups interacting in the parking lot. At one point, people can be seen moving towards their vehicles.

According to witnesses, a younger male disrespected one of the gangs’ members by putting both of his thumbs down. That’s when some witnesses said shots were fired from the center of the parking lot. Witnesses told police they saw Justice Jr. firing a gun.

Juarez was hit by gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy performed on July 13 showed Juarez suffered a single gunshot wound to the forehead.

This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 3:52 PM.