December murder suspect linked to two other unprovoked shootings in Tacoma, charges say
A Tacoma man charged with the murder of a 30-year-old near a Hilltop encampment last month was linked to the crime through investigations of two other shootings days apart, according to charging documents.
The lead detective investigating the Dec. 11 killing of Mason Hall homed in on 22-year-old Joshua D. Jemison after researching reports of a separate shooting the same day and another on Dec. 14 where video surveillance showed a blue, two-door Honda Civic and police recovered 9 mm shell casings, charging documents show. None of the attacks had an apparent motive.
Investigators then identified multiple incidents involving Jemison, a handgun and a blue Honda, according to charging documents. The Washington State Patrol crime lab also determined bullet casings from the three shootings were fired from the same gun.
Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Craig Adams set Jemison’s bail at $2 million during his arraignment Wednesday on two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault, as well as second-degree assault related to a separate gun-threat incident. Pleas of not guilty were entered on his behalf. No one from his family appeared to be in attendance.
In arguing for the high bail amount, deputy prosecutor Afton Gregson cited Jemison’s alleged actions in the criminal case, calling him a “danger to the community.” She said the defendant did not have any prior felony convictions.
“I don’t know nothing about nothing,” Jemison said after leaning back in his seat toward the end of the hearing.
Tacoma police arrested Jemison in connection with the shootings last Thursday after finding him in his Honda in the 4400 block of Center Street, charging documents show. A crime-scene technician recovered a 9 mm shell casing from the car that matched the brand of bullets from two of the shootings.
Jemison told detectives the Honda was his and his gun was inside following the arrest, according to charging documents. Police wrote that he has a valid concealed pistol license as of last week.
Charging documents give the following account of the Tacoma police investigation:
Firefighters found Hall in the 1100 block of Cushman Avenue on Dec. 12. Authorities initially believed he might have died from a drug overdose due to paraphernalia around him. Then, county Medical Examiner’s Office staff found two bullet casings nearby and determined he’d been shot in the chest and arm.
Detectives later learned officers responded to a report of gunshots in the area the night before Hall was found, according to department spokesperson Wendy Haddow. Officers interviewed people in the area who heard gunfire but police did not locate a victim.
The next day, a man staying in a tent nearby told police he heard multiple gunshots but no arguing beforehand. A firefighter working in the area at the time told police he heard two shots and saw a small sedan leave the scene about 10 seconds later.
About three hours later, just before midnight, a woman reported her friend was shot on the 4000 block of Center Street. A bullet went through his chest and collapsed one of his lungs but medical personnel expected him to live.
At the hospital, the victim said a blue sedan pulled into the parking lot where he was smoking, and he approached the car gesturing with his hands that he needed a lighter. Video surveillance showed the driver then got out and shot him once before the gun malfunctioned and he fled. The victim said the driver said nothing but seemed angry.
The Dec. 14 shooting occurred at a traffic light near 600 North Pearl St. after a man acting “erratically” near stopped cars got into an argument with the driver of a blue Honda. A witness reported the victim saying, “What are you looking at?” and, “Well, shoot me then,” before gunfire rang out. One of the bullets hit the witness’ car windows.
The victim suffered two gunshots to his chest and abdomen as well as a broken arm. Still conscious at the scene, he told police he was crossing the street and got into an argument with a stranger who shot him.
Law enforcement documented four other cases where Jemison was reported with a gun, including an alleged incident in University Place where he’s facing a second-degree assault charge.
On Christmas Eve, University Place police took a report from a barista who said a customer pointed a handgun at her after she’d rejected his flirting earlier in the day. Police identified Jemison as the likely suspect due to his arrest for exposing himself to another barista two days beforehand. The barista picked Jemison and one other man out of a photo montage but said she was leaning toward Jemison and was “thrown off” by his facial hair in the picture.
Last week, a man at the Metro Parks Tacoma STAR Center reported a man armed with a gun demanded his wife’s McDonald’s food and fled in a blue Honda. The plate number matched Jemison’s car.
A church on the 6200 block of South Tyler Street also reported Jemison for sleeping in his vehicle there for three nights. Police observed a handgun registered to him in the center console when they responded.
Prior to the shootings, on Nov. 11, police spoke with Jemison near his listed address after someone reported him sitting in his car with a gun. Jemison told police he was there to see family.
