Grandfather shot in lawn chair dies. Now a Tacoma man is charged with murder
A man has died from his injuries after he and another person were shot early Saturday morning during an argument.
Prosecutors initially charged Jason Edward Seevers, 41, with three counts of first-degree assault and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm for the shooting.
A man who had been shot during the incident underwent two surgeries. While he was being prepped for another surgery Monday, his heart stopped, according to charging documents. The man was initially revived but then died from his injuries.
After his death, prosecutors charged Seevers with second-degree murder and first-degree assault, court records show. Prosecutors learned an 8-year-old girl, who was the victim’s grandchild, was “in the line of fire” during the shooting.
Seevers was initially arraigned following the shooting Monday where a plea of not guilty was entered on this behalf. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Philip Sorensen set his bail at $350,000.
After the man’s death, Seevers was rearraigned Wednesday and entered a plea of not guilty. Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille raised his bail to $1.5 million, court records show.
Charging details
Officers were dispatched to the 6800 block of South Wapato Street at 1:29 a.m. for a report that three people had been shot in the front yard. They found a man who suffered several gunshot wounds seated in a lawn chair. Medical aid was provided to him, according to charging documents.
Officers later learned that a second man who had been shot hid in a garage before his friend drove him to a hospital. He was in stable condition.
Documents show that the man who was shot in the lawn chair was at the Wapato Street home with family. They were celebrating the Fourth of July and in the process of cleaning up firework debris in the roadway.
The victim’s daughter told police she had ongoing issues with Seevers. She alleged he was always intoxicated and berated her for various issues, documents show.
The victim’s daughter said during the cleanup, Seevers came out to the street and made statements such as, “What’s your problem?” The victim told Seevers to “go home,” but Seevers allegedly did not comply. When the victim’s daughter told him to go home, Seevers allegedly said, “I’ll show you what I’m going to do about it” before taking out a gun and firing into the yard.
According to charging documents, Seevers allegedly got into his truck and drove south on South Wapato Street. A family member applied pressure to the man’s injuries before Tacoma Fire personnel arrived.
The friend who dropped off the second injured man at the hospital told police they had been hanging out at the home when an argument began over where someone had parked their vehicle. When the argument escalated, the friend said the victim’s daughter sprayed Seevers with a water hose before the defendant allegedly pulled out his gun.
According to charging documents, Seevers allegedly got into his truck and drove southbound on South Wapato Street.
About 12 shell casings were on the roadway near the shooting scene, documents show.
An officer spoke with Seevers’ roommate who had him on the phone. Seevers was allegedly overheard telling the officer that he was defending himself. The victim’s daughter told police that no one threatened or assaulted Seevers.
When an officer asked Seevers to come back to talk to police, he allegedly said, “Why? So I can go back to jail for the next 20 years?” He eventually returned to the scene.
Seevers has previous misdemeanor convictions for driving while license suspended or no valid operating license between 2002 and 2005 in Washington.
