Self-defense claim raised in court for man charged in fatal 2024 Tacoma shooting
A 26-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder Tuesday for following a man who was with his girlfriend from a Tacoma bar, cutting them off with his car and then fatally shooting the man after the victim struck him with a firearm.
Prosecutors allege that Chaston Pierce Philes either intentionally killed Sean Miller, 33, on July 15, 2024 or caused Miller’s death while trying to commit second-degree assault. Philes was also charged with reckless driving.
A plea of not guilty was entered on Philes’ behalf at arraignment Tuesday afternoon in Pierce County Superior Court. Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set bail at $100,000.
Philes turned himself in to the Pierce County Jail on Monday, according to the Tacoma Police Department. Police said Philes remained at the scene after the fatal shooting and cooperated with detectives during the investigation. He has no prior felony criminal history.
In court, deputy prosecuting attorney Lisa Wagner argued for a bail of $500,000. She told McInvaille that was reasonable given the serious nature of the allegations, and she said it was clear from the probable cause document that Philes was the first aggressor in this case.
Wagner also noted that Philes had multiple driving offenses from 2019 to 2025, which she said told her the defendant had a certain disregard for the law.
Philes’ defense attorney, Jesse Williams of Puget Law Group, said he didn’t agree with prosecutors’ decision to file charges, and he asked McInvaille to release his client on his personal recognizance.
“Mr. Philes has gone nowhere over the last two years, and when he was informed late last week that law enforcement was moving forward with arresting and that the Prosecutor’s Office was going to charge him, he did not take off.”
Williams said it seemed clear from the probable cause document that Philes was distraught to find that his long-term girlfriend was involved with another man, and he followed after them. The defense attorney said Philes’ level of aggressive driving was not clear to him from charging papers, but he said Philes did not cause an accident.
“It seems very obvious to me that there is a very strong self-defense claim,” Williams said. “Seems very obvious to me that this was an isolated event related to what transpired in this moment.”
Williams said every witness reported that Miller attacked Philes when they both exited their vehicles near the Emerald Queen Casino near East 28th and East 29th streets.
“He’s not some guy who just pulled out a gun and randomly, indiscriminately fired at people,” Williams said. “He didn’t murder someone in cold blood. It seems clear to me from everything that’s been filed that he was being attacked. Even if he initiated the confrontation, he was being attacked.”
Wagner responded by stating that Miller was nearly rammed while trying to flee from Philes. The prosecutor said it was clear from the detective’s probable cause affidavit that Miller did pull a firearm out after getting out of his car but never pointed it at Philes.
Before McInvaille imposed bail, she heard from Miller’s mother, Laura Zimmerman. She and at least 14 other friends and relatives attended the hearing. Zimmerman walked into the courtroom carrying a framed photo of herself with her son. She asked the court to impose the highest bail requested by prosecutors.
Zimmerman said it would help Philes think twice before making further “poor choices.”
“While under pressure it would appear Chasten had no consideration for life or Sean as he fired all shots from his gun, then watched Sean lie in the street of a Tacoma freeway off-ramp and struggle to catch his last breath,” Zimmerman said.
Following the arraignment, family and friends of Miller gathered outside the courthouse to speak with news media and express their disappointment with the court’s bail decision.
“Even though he’s been good for two years, his rage apparently peaks at the times when he is not satisfied with something, and to me that scares me,” Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman said she requested a higher bail for the safety of the public, including Philes’ girlfriend and newborn baby. She said the family has already been waiting two years since the incident for an arrest.
“I don’t think people realized what it takes for a family to sit there and wait and wait and wait and wait for two years,” Gregg Zimmerman, Miller’s stepfather, said. “It’ll be two years tomorrow, July 15. So it takes a toll.”
Family members remembered Miller as a lighthearted, well-loved man. He liked to take selfies with his friends and was into boat and car racing, often enjoying races at Pacific Raceways in Kent. He also used to collect model cars with his grandfather Warren “Bud” Gleim.
“I not only lost a grandson, but I lost a good friend,” Gleim said.
This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 4:02 PM.
