Man shot dead on South Tacoma Way identified by Medical Examiner’s Office
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the victim in Monday’s South Tacoma Way homicide.
Troup Junior Iuta, 42, died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the ME’s public portal. His manner of death is listed as homicide.
At around 12:25 a.m. Monday, officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 1000 block of South Tacoma Way.
A witness told police he was walking on South Tacoma Way toward the train station when he ran into Iuta, 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 31-year-old Joel Antonio Oviedo, according to court documents.
Oviedo approached Iuta and accused him of “messing with my family,” according to court records.
The victim denied the accusation and asked him what he was talking about. Oviedo then pulled a gun from his waistband and shot Iuta approximately five times, according to the witness, who fled the scene and hid until authorities arrived.
SWAT Officers arrested Oviedo in his vehicle Wednesday. He appeared in Pierce County Superior Court on Thursday to plead not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
His bail is $1 million.
