Dog and owner were killed at Tacoma homeless camp. Here’s the gunman’s sentence
A 39-year-old man was sentenced to 21 years, five months in prison Friday for fatally shooting a man and his dog at a homeless encampment near Interstate 5 in Tacoma.
Brandon Lee Archuleta pleaded guilty in September to second-degree murder for the death of 26-year-old Jefferson Matthews. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Shelly Moss imposed Archuleta’s punishment, which was at the low end of the standard sentencing range and followed prosecutors’ recommendation.
The Feb. 28, 2023 shooting occurred in an encampment near South 74th Street and Tacoma Mall Boulevard. It stemmed from a brief argument over Matthews’ dog, Tyson, who barked at Archuleta in a tent.
Matthews’ girlfriend told Tacoma Police Department detectives she was sitting in a tent with Matthews when Archuleta, whom she knew as “Clover,” came in. Tyson started barking. The girlfriend said Archuleta said something to the effect of, “Get your [expletive] dog!,” and then immediately shot Tyson.
Matthews, who wasn’t armed, got up and confronted Archuleta near the entrance to the tent. Archuleta shot him once in the chest, and he fell backward into the tent. Matthews was pronounced dead at the scene. Tacoma Animal Control took the dog to an emergency veterinarian, and the animal later died.
Archuleta was arrested hours after the shooting at a nearby RV, according to court documents. He was identified as the shooter by two witnesses, and a .22-caliber pistol found inside the RV matched the caliber of bullet found at the crime scene.
Prosecutors originally charged Archuleta with first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, first-degree animal cruelty and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Loren Halstrom wrote in a court filing that prosecutors were moving to amend the charges as part of plea negotiations and after considering the facts indicated in the discovery process. Halstrom also checked a box that said the nature and seriousness of the offense charged justified an amendment.
In other news out of Superior Court
Man arrested in Graham after SWAT standoff sentenced
A 45-year-old man accused of choking and sexually assaulting his girlfriend has pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 17 months in prison.
Daniel James Redwine pleaded guilty Oct. 23 to two felonies, second-degree assault and eluding, and a gross misdemeanor, fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation. The crimes occurred in November and December 2024.
Judge Matthew Thomas imposed Redwine’s punishment, which was in the middle of the standard sentencing range.
The victim reported the assault two days after it happened in Redwine’s trailer, according to court documents. The two were having sex when she asked him to stop, and he reportedly became upset and punched her. Redwine also choked her for about 40 seconds and threatened to “crack her head in” with a brick.
Weeks later, in December, Redwine fled from a traffic stop. His ex-girlfriend was driving, but the woman later told law enforcement that Redwine reached over her, turned the car back on and put his foot on the gas pedal. Court documents said he took control of the car.
The driver went to her home in Graham and followed Redwine in because her daughter was inside. Sheriff’s Office deputies and a SWAT team surrounded the house for over two hours. Redwine surrendered just as law enforcement prepared to breach the front door.
