Pierce County man sentenced for shootout with deputies who fired 79 shots at him
A 40-year-old man who exchanged gunfire with Pierce County sheriff’s deputies from his truck with his dog inside and led them on a chase through a residential neighborhood has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.
Jeffrey Brian McCreary pleaded guilty June 17 to drive-by shooting and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm for the Dec. 19, 2023, incident. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Timothy Ashcraft sentenced him the same day, handing down a midrange punishment that was in line with recommendations from the prosecution and defense.
McCreary’s defense attorney, Sarah Tofflemire, stated in a sentencing memorandum that the recommendation attempted to balance evidence issues in the case, the potential for harm that McCreary posed during the incident and the mitigating circumstances of McCreary’s mental health.
According to a forensic psychological evaluation, McCreary admitted to using methamphetamine on the day of his encounter with law enforcement. He also used the drug for a week straight before the incident, he said.
No one was struck by gunfire in the shooting. Six Sheriff’s Office deputies fired a total 79 bullets at McCreary, who was in his truck approaching the entrance of the gated community where he lived. The only wound McCreary suffered was an injury to his arm believed to be from shattered glass or shrapnel. His dog was uninjured.
That’s according to County Prosecutor Mary Robnett’s summary of the shooting in a June 17 letter to Sheriff Keith Swank. The letter declared the deputies’ use of deadly force to be justified and lawful. Those involved were Sgt. Zachary Spencer, Sgt. Matthew Hirschi, Deputy Tim Farrar, Deputy Grant Button, Deputy Edgar Ruiz and Deputy Casey Watkins.
Robnett described the situation as “chaotic.” KOMO News reported that neighbors hid in their homes during the shootout, and one resident reported that his car was struck by a bullet.
The incident began shortly after 9 p.m. when dispatchers received a 911 call reporting that the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado was shooting a rifle out of the driver’s window near Canyon Road East and 176th Street. Another 911 caller reported that the suspect had fired about 10 shots at a smaller red truck. It was later determined that McCreary was armed with a shotgun and a Palmetto AK-47.
Multiple deputies responded and tried to stop McCreary within the gated community where he lived, but Robnett said he led them on a dangerous chase through the residential area. At one point on 192nd Street Court East, McCreary slowed his truck and fired a shotgun out of his window while a deputy was behind him.
The deputy believed McCreary had fired a rifle at him, but according to Robnett’s letter, further investigation found the defendant didn’t fire the gun in the deputy’s direction. Four shotgun wads were later located.
McCreary eventually drove directly toward three of the deputies parked on 192nd Street Court East, and they and the three other deputies staged on 82nd Avenue East began firing at the windows of McCreary’s truck. According to Robnett’s letter, McCreary ducked when the shots began, and after the gunfire stopped, deputies closed in on him and took him into custody.
Prosecutors charged McCreary with drive-by shooting, three counts of second-degree assault and two counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. He has a lengthy criminal history with 25 misdemeanor convictions between 2002 and 2017, as well as one felony conviction for domestic-violence related harassment.
The defendants’ charges were later reduced as part of a plea agreement. Deputy prosecuting attorney Sean Plunkett explained in a court filing that there were evidence challenges in terms of intent and the number of assault victims. He said the amended charges accurately represented McCreary’s conduct and secured a conviction on a violent felony offense.
In other news out of Superior Court
Security guard at college campus in Gig Harbor sentenced for check scheme
A 34-year-old woman accused of stealing $63,000 from the Tacoma Community College Foundation while working for the school as a security guard pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree theft and was sentenced to no jail time.
Zaquita McClanahan was previously charged with first-degree theft, first-degree identity theft and forgery, according to court records. Deputy prosecuting attorney Sean Plunkett wrote in a court filing that there were challenges with evidence following a review of the investigation and the input of a victim representative.
Tamyra Howser, vice president of college relations at TCC, previously told The News Tribune that the money taken was fully recovered.
First-degree theft has a standard sentencing range up to three months for defendants prosecuted in similar cases. McClanahan had no prior criminal convictions.
McClanahan had been a security guard for TCC’s satellite campus in Gig Harbor since 2021. According to court records, she committed the thefts between November and December 2023.
The TCC learned in December 2023 that its Umpqua checking account was frozen due to suspected fraudulent activity. According to charging documents, there were 10 checks in the amount of $63,000 that were allegedly deposited in McClanahan’s name but had the account and routing number of the foundation.
The fraudulent checks ranged from $2,500 to $8,500, prosecutors wrote. Security footage from the credit union allegedly showed McClanahan wearing her TCC security guard uniform and driving the school’s vehicle.
McClanahan allegedly told police that she had an online relationship with a person she never met in real life or through video. She said she provided bank account information to them because they were in financial distress, and this person gave the information to a third person, who would send McClanahan checks.
