Couple charged with murder in Tacoma shootout; police don’t believe victim fired shots

A couple accused in a fatal Tacoma shooting has been charged with murder after a man hit by one of 71 shots fired in a shootout died from his wounds about a week later.

Andre Stewart, 23, and Jennifer Boyd, 21, pleaded not guilty at their arraignments to second-degree murder. Stewart also faces a count of unlawful gun possession.

Both were charged earlier with drive-by shooting.

Boyd was arraigned Wednesday (May 18); Stewart was arraigned Friday (May 13). Court Commissioner Meagan Foley set Stewart’s bail at $1 million and Boyd’s at $200,000.

The Spanaway man they’re accused of killing, 23-year-old Marquel Bradley, died April 21 at St. Joseph Medical Center, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Investigators determined he died from a gunshot wound to his head, and ruled his death a homicide.

According to updated charging papers:

Police think Stewart and others got into a dispute that eventually led to the shooting April 16 near East 35th and L streets.

Surveillance video appears to show someone firing shots at the vehicle Boyd and Stewart were in. There were several people in the street at the time, and investigators do not think Bradley fired the first shots.

The video goes on to show Stewart get out and return fire, get another magazine and continue shooting toward where the other shooter had fled.

Police found 71 shell casings at the scene.

Investigators matched the bullet that killed Bradley to the handgun police found with Stewart afterward.

After the shooting, police found Boyd and Stewart stopped nearby, with 12 bullet holes in their vehicle, steam coming from the engine and a flat tire.

Their attorneys were not reachable for comment Wednesday.

Under state law, a person firing a weapon doesn’t have to be in a vehicle to be guilty of a charge of drive-by shooting.

A shooting is considered a drive-by if someone fires a gun in the immediate area of a vehicle used to take the gun, shooter or both to the scene.

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 2:47 PM with the headline "Couple charged with murder in Tacoma shootout; police don’t believe victim fired shots."