Puyallup officer-involved shooting that killed 1 sent to prosecutors for review
An officer-involved shooting involving the Tacoma and Puyallup police departments in April 2025 has been sent to Pierce County prosecutors for review.
Charles Porche, spokesperson for the Lakewood Police Department, said in a news release the Pierce County Force Investigation Team, which investigatef deadly force investigations involving local officers until recently, has forwarded the case to the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The News Tribune reached out to the prosecutor’s office but did not receive an immediate response.
The shooting happened on April 5, 2025, and it started with a carjacking.
Deputies with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a robbery in the 10400 block of Portland Avenue East at about 12:25 p.m., Porche previously said, with a car reportedly being stolen from someone.
The suspect was later identified as 29-year-old Bret Winn.
At 12:27 p.m., officers with the Tacoma Police Department responded to a multi-car collision at South 56th Street and Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, Porche said. One of the cars in the crash was “very similar” to the car taken in the carjacking a couple minutes earlier.
“As officers were arriving at this location, they were advised of another carjacking occurring nearby involving the same described male,” Porche wrote in the release.
At about 12:39 p.m., a Tacoma police officer found the second stolen car around East 35th Street and East D Street. The officer tried to stop the vehicle but ended up pursuing Winn.
Winn drove onto River Road in Puyallup, where officers with the Puyallup Police Department became involved, the release said. Police used spike strips in the 1500 block of River Road, and the chase wrapped up in the 500 block of Valley Avenue East after the car “became disabled.”
Winn then stepped out of the car with a weapon in his hand, the release said. Officers told him to drop the weapon, but he reportedly came towards the officers, and shots were fired.
“Officers provided medical aid to the suspect prior to the arrival of medics/fire department,” the release said. “Additional aid was provided; however, the suspect was declared deceased on scene. No officers were injured during this incident.”
The officers who shot Winn were later identified as 38-year-old Mohamud Ali from the Tacoma Police Department and 33-year-old Mitchell Alfaro from the Puyallup Police Department.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner said Winn died from multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was listed as a homicide.
