Pierce County man accused of drive-by shooting had child in car, deputies say
A man was arrested for firing several gunshots from his car at a relative’s home with his 1-year-old child inside the vehicle Wednesday afternoon in Parkland.
Deputies were dispatched around 3 p.m. to an apartment building in the 2100 block of 112th Street South . A family member said the 29-year-old man drove by their home and fired several shots from his vehicle. He allegedly sent threatening messages to the relative stating he would kill them, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Carly Cappetto told The News Tribune via email.
Family members told deputies the man was back to using meth.
“The male suspect fled back to his residence (with his child) near the 8600 block of Pacific Ave. S. Deputies arrived to contact the suspect and arrest him for the drive-by shooting and threats,” Cappetto wrote.
The man held his child when he came to the door. Cappetto wrote he was using the child as a shield, so deputies would not use force against him. The man refused to come out. He also refused to put the child down.
“Deputies spoke with him for several minutes, attempting to de-escalate the situation, and on two occasions, he attempted to shut the door and barricade himself with the child,” she wrote.
Cappetto said the man was arrested after he agreed to hand the child over to another family member. The child was unharmed.
The gun allegedly using in the drive-by shooting was recovered in his home. Dozens of shell casings were scattered in his home, Cappetto wrote. There were also bullet holes in the walls and doors. Neighbors had reported hearing several gunshots from his home in the last few days while his child was with him.
Prosecutors charged the man with attempted drive-by shooting, felony harassment, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, third-degree malicious mischief and resisting arrest.
A plea of not guilty was entered on the man’s behalf during his arraignment Thursday afternoon. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Matthew Thomas set bail at $200,000, according to court records.
The man’s previous criminal convictions include attempting to elude police vehicle in Pierce County and protection order violation in Lakewood Municipal Court last year. He was also convicted last year in Thurston County for reckless driving and DUI.
The mother of the child told The News Tribune on Friday afternoon her daughter was not in his car when the shooting occurred. She said the man dropped their daughter off at his cousin’s house prior to the shooting.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include comments from the child’s mother.
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 12:13 PM.
