Suspected getaway driver charged in fatal drive-by shooting in Puyallup
A man suspected of driving the getaway car in a fatal Puyallup shooting has been arrested, but the gunman has not been found.
On Wednesday, 21-year-old Patrick Shepherd pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and second-degree murder in the March 15 death of Antonio Erb. He was ordered held on $1 million bail.
Investigators believe the gunman fled the state.
A motive has not been determined.
Charging papers give this account of the homicide:
Shepherd picked up the suspected gunman, and they were in a parking lot when the suspected gunman spotted Erb, 20, driving by. The gunman allegedly told Shepherd to follow him, then placed a handgun in his lap and called someone to tell them he was behind Erb and to ask what to do.
After several blocks, Erb drove to a home in the 600 block of 8th Street NW and parked on the street.
“... The shooting suspect then leaned out of the passenger side window and began shooting multiple rounds at the victim, striking him one time,” records say.
Erb got out of his vehicle and ran for the house but collapsed on the porch. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses reported seeing a tan SUV drive away from the scene. Home surveillance footage later showed a tan Dodge Durango speeding away.
Police found 11 shell casings in the street.
Erb’s friend said they worked out together earlier in the day then went to his Puyallup home. He was standing by his car when he heard multiple gunshots and Erb call his name before collapsing.
A witness later called police with the suspect’s name, which led them to Shepherd, who had a Dodge Durango fitting the description of the getaway car registered in his name.
After Shepherd was arrested, he allegedly admitted to being involved in the shooting.
He and the suspected gunman tried to change the appearance of the SUV after the shooting and stayed the night in a Portland motel, records say.
“During the interview, defendant Shepherd admitted that there were several indicators that the shooting suspect was going to shoot the victim, and confirmed that he could have made different choices,” prosecutors wrote in charging papers. “He clarified that he was never threatened or under duress from the shooting suspect during the incident.”
