Suspect in South Tacoma Way shooting charged with first-degree murder
Pierce County prosecutors charged a 31-year-old man with first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm Thursday in relation to a Monday morning shooting that killed a man.
Joel Antonio Oviedo appeared in Superior Court on Thursday to plead not guilty to the charges. His bail is $1 million.
At around 12:25 a.m. Monday, officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 1000 block of South Tacoma Way near the Yakima Avenue overpass, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Authorities found an man on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to the hospital where he died, the affidavit said.
A witness told police he was walking on South Tacoma Way toward the train station when he ran into the victim, who he recognized from his time at the Tacoma Rescue Mission.
While they talked, a pair of men he did not recognize approached them. The witness later identified one of the men as Oviedo.
Oviedo approached the victim and accused him of “messing with my family,” according to the affidavit. The victim denied the accusation and asked him what he was talking about.
Oviedo then pulled a gun from his waistband and shot the victim approximately five times, according to the witness, who fled the scene and hid until authorities arrived.
Detectives found the man who was with Oviedo near the crime scene and brought him in for questioning.
He told detectives he was not involved in the homicide but became friends with Oviedo after they were housed together in the Nisqually Jail, according to the affidavit.
The man told detectives he had been punched in the face by the victim earlier that day. He was walking with Oviedo on South Tacoma Way when they ran into the victim, the affidavit said.
He recalled Oviedo told the victim to get on the ground several times, which the victim refused to do. Oviedo then allegedly said, “You [expletive] with my brother,” and fired three rounds at the victim.
Oviedo’s former cellmate told police he had no idea Oviedo possessed a gun and would shoot the victim. After the shooting, they were walking back towards the Rescue Mission when a red Chevy stopped on the roadway and Oviedo got in.
Oviedo had an active arrest warrant in Washington for third-degree assault. He previously was convicted of third-degree assault in October 2024 and is not allowed to possess a firearm.
He also has multiple felony convictions in Texas, including assaulting a public servant, assault causing bodily injury and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to court records.
SWAT officers arrested Oviedo in his vehicle on Wednesday.
