Argument over stolen beer prompted Pierce County man to kill stepdad, records say
An Eatonville man fatally shot his stepfather after a fight over beer, according to court documents.
Pierce County prosecutors on Friday charged Ryan Harris, 43, with first-degree murder and theft of a motor vehicle. He pleaded not guilty at arraignment. Superior Court Judge Diana L. Kiesel set bail at $1 million.
Officials have not publicly identified the 72-year-old victim, who was killed Thursday. The Medical Examiner’s Office has not completed an autopsy but said the victim suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and head.
Charging papers and the Sheriff’s Department give this account of the homicide:
A neighbor in the 18100 block of Elkhorn Drive East called 911 about 2 p.m. Thursday and told dispatchers Harris had called him and said he had killed his stepfather.
Deputies responded to the house but found nobody home. Since the doors were unlocked, they searched the home and property but initially found no sign of violence.
It wasn’t until Harris’ mother returned home and said the men had been working on wood projects in the workshop that deputies did a closer inspection and found blood on the floor and cabinet in the detached workshop.
The neighbor told detectives Harris said his stepdad threw a hammer during an argument and hit him in the face, so he allegedly retrieved a gun from the house and shot his stepdad.
Deputies found Harris driving the victim’s Ecoline van at 136th Street East and Meridian Avenue East around 5:30 p.m. but still found no sign of his stepfather.
After a search warrant was approved around 11 p.m., investigators found the stepfather’s body about 100 yards from the workshop. It was secured to a dolly and covered up with two large pieces of metal siding.
Harris was taken into custody and while waiting to be interviewed, allegedly tore pieces off his pants and swallowed them. Investigators then removed his clothing and shoes for evidence. Blood was found on Harris’ shoes, records say.
Harris told detectives an argument broke out with his stepfather in the workshop after his stepdad accused him of stealing beer. Harris’ stepfather allegedly threw a hammer at him and the handle grazed Harris’ face. Harris then retrieved a gun from the house and shot his stepdad, prosecutors wrote in charging papers.
He did not admit to the homicide, but said he grabbed a “go bag” and his dog after the argument and left in his stepdad’s van. Harris also admitted to calling a neighbor to discuss the fight but denied saying he killed his stepdad, according to charging papers.
Blood and guns were found in the van, but detectives are unsure whether one of the guns was the murder weapon.
The investigation is ongoing.
Staff writer Alexis Krell contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 16, 2021 at 12:55 PM.
