18-year-old University Place man killed in Tacoma hospital shooting identified
The 18-year-old man killed in a shooting at the MultiCare Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma earlier this month has been identified, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Jaedyn Williams of University Place died on Aug. 6 near the 1900 block of South Union Avenue from a gunshot wound to the torso. His manner of death was listed as a homicide, the office wrote in a news release.
Martice Lawon Ryan, 25, was charged by prosecutors with first-degree murder and first-degree assault for the shooting. Ryan is also accused of shooting and injuring Williams’ girlfriend at the hospital.
Williams and his girlfriend were reportedly in the waiting area of the hospital’s emergency room for his elbow pain, according to charging documents.
The woman told investigators that Ryan entered the waiting room when they checked in. He approached them with an arm inside his hoodie and asked Williams why he was staring at him, documents show. Williams replied that he was not. Ryan asked Williams if he knew him, to which the victim said he did not.
Documents show that Ryan allegedly took out a gun and fired at the victims. The woman told police she did not recognize Ryan, and they did not have any interactions before they came to the hospital.
During Ryan’s arraignment Monday, Williams’ father urged Pierce County Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille to not set bail.
“This wasn’t just a homicide, your honor, this was an act of terror. This was an act that took place in a hospital, again, where anyone in this community should feel safe,” he said.
Ryan is being held at the Pierce County Jail on a no-bail hold. Arguments for bail are reserved for a future hearing.
This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM.
