Innocent woman was shot, killed at Pierce County gas station. Here’s the verdict
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Pierce County jury convicted Jerrmell Warren of felony murder, assault and other crimes
- Uninvolved bystander Angelina Palmer was fatally shot
- Victim’s brother is raising money to get her a full-size headstone at her grave
A Pierce County jury on Monday found a man guilty of felony murder and other charges for firing a gun during an altercation outside a Spanaway gas station, striking and killing an uninvolved woman walking through the parking lot.
Jurors rejected Jerrmell Rashadd Warren’s claim that he was defending himself when he fired his gun multiple times in response to being bear-sprayed by someone in the parking lot. According to court records, Warren had pulled a gun on a driver and had been aggressively approaching cars before he was sprayed.
The stray bullet fatally struck Angelina Palmer, 39, in the chest, and a driver ran over her while trying to get away from the chaos. She was a mother to nine children and had many siblings. Her brother, Willard Palmer, previously said his sister was “the light of the room” and always helped his younger sisters through difficult times.
“It hit me like a wave of bricks,” said Willard Palmer, who was in court for the verdict.
Willard Palmer said after the verdicts were read Warren turned, made eye contact with him and muttered, “I’m sorry.” Palmer said the apology wouldn’t bring his sister back.
Warren, 43, represented himself in his trial. He was convicted of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. His murder and assault convictions carried firearm-sentencing enhancements, which will lengthen his prison term. A sentencing hearing was set for Sept. 5.
The defendant has local felony convictions that date to 1997, including five DUI convictions. Previous reporting from The News Tribune showed Warren had been jailed at least 18 times before he shot Palmer May 26, 2022, and he was implicated in several crimes in the months before the shooting.
According to court records, Warren’s prior convictions mean he’ll face a standard sentencing range of about 24 to 32 years in prison. Willard Palmer said he’d like to see Warren receive at least 20 years.
The trial was an emotional and financial drain on Willard Palmer, who traveled from Walla Walla to testify for prosecutors and observe the trial. He said being cross-examined by Warren himself was “absolutely horrific.”
“He asked me, ‘Am I sure? Am I sure that that is my sister?’” Willard Palmer said. “What kind of question is that?”
“That was hard,” he said.
Now Willard Palmer is trying to raise money through a GoFundMe to both help him pay for the expenses of attending the trial for a month and a half and to erect a full-size headstone for his sister. Angelina Palmer was buried at Calvary Cemetery in South Tacoma, and for now only a stone with the numbers “721” marks her final resting place.
“She deserves more than that,” Willard Palmer said. “I am trying so hard to get the community to help me one more time. Just help me get a marker for her.”
