Murder or self-defense? Court records detail shooting of boy, 14, in Tacoma
A Pierce County man is accused of fatally shooting a 14-year-old boy in an apparent road-rage incident Friday.
Prosecutors charged Nicholas Badger Prather, 42, with first-degree murder, alleging premeditation in the boy’s death. Prather’s attorney, Bryan Hershman, argued against the premeditation. He said during a Monday hearing that his client was defending himself after a person in the boy’s vehicle prepared to pepper spray him.
A plea of not guilty was entered on Prather’s behalf during his arraignment in Superior Court. Pro tem Court Commissioner Meagan Foley set bail at $1 million.
Members of the boy’s family were present for the hearing.
Hershman said that he was not going to argue bail but argue probable cause, saying there was “not one shred of information” in the charging documents that supported the premeditated intent claims.
He said the boy was driving recklessly, which Prather witnessed through his rearview mirror. Seeing a 14-year-old drive a car gave him “cause for concern.” Hershman added that the front passenger of the Kia the boy was driving told people in the car that he was going to pepper spray Prather.
“This man defended himself and had a right to defend himself,” Hershman said.
Prosecuting attorney Robert Yu argued someone does not have justification to shoot another person just because they are driving recklessly. Yu said people in the boy’s vehicle heard Prather telling them to come closer to his truck before he pulled out the firearm.
Hershman countered that only one of the four people who ran from the Kia after the shooting made that claim.
Before Foley set bail, she reminded the defense and prosecutors that it was not the court’s duty during arraignments to determine the strength of the case against defendants. She said the court would find probable cause for the charges brought against Prather.
The name of the victim has not been publicly released, pending confirmation from the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Charging details
Officers in Tacoma were dispatched at 2:57 p.m. to the 6400 block of McKinley Avenue for a two-car crash involving a 2020 Kia Sportage and a Scion xB. A 14-year-old boy in the Kia was injured with a gunshot wound to the head.
The boy died from his injury after he was taken to a local hospital.
Surveillance from nearby businesses show that the Kia was behind the Scion waiting to turn. There was a large black truck about a car length behind the Kia, documents show. The driver of the truck had his window down and when he passed the Kia, an object was seen out of his window. The truck drove south, and the Kia stayed in its spot before driving forward and crashing into the Scion. Four other people in the car ran off, leaving the boy behind.
Documents show that an attorney for Prather contacted police and said he was involved in the incident. Prather surrendered at the Tacoma Police Department a few hours later. Detectives determined a truck registered to Prather matched the one captured in surveillance footage.
Detectives interviewed the people in the Kia, who said the victim was driving recklessly and passing other vehicles on shoulders, sidewalks and in turn lanes. The people from the Kia had similar stories, saying the driver of the truck would not let the Kia pass. The boy eventually passed the truck in the center turn lane, and the truck driver flipped them off with his middle finger. The front passenger of the Kia and Prather shouted at each other as they waited on a red light, documents show.
Charging documents say passengers of the Kia said Prather allegedly told them to back up and come closer to his truck.
The front passenger told people in the Kia he was going to spray Prather with pepper spray, documents show. The windows were down in both the truck and the Kia. The passenger tried to spray Prather, and, at the same time, the gunshot went off.
A firearm was found in Prather’s home that allegedly matched the caliber and brand of ammunition from the shooting, according to court documents.
When Prather turned himself in to police, he declined to provide a statement and was booked into the Pierce County Jail.
Prather does not have any previous convictions, court records show.
This story was originally published December 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
