Pierce County authorities, supported by a SWAT team, apprehended an 18-year-old individual in Des Moines, just after 10 p.m. recently, for alleged involvement in a mass shooting that erupted at a house party last month. This marks the second arrest related to the incident.
The arrest followed a comprehensive undercover investigation initiated after the March 29 shooting. The suspect, previously unidentified, was discovered through evidence collection, surveillance footage analysis, and additional information, making him the primary outstanding suspect.
Upon identifying the suspect, investigators conducted surveillance of his residence and surrounding areas in Des Moines. Through conversations with victims and witnesses, and by reviewing surveillance footage, authorities established probable cause for a second suspect.
Neighbors reported the gathering’s increasing volume around 10:45 p.m. to local authorities. However, before deputies from Pierce County could respond, additional reports of gunfire emerged. Initially, deputies were diverted to another call, delaying their arrival at the scene until shortly after midnight.
Upon their arrival, deputies discovered a deceased individual on the street outside the party-hosting residence. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office disclosed that several partygoers were armed, with some returning fire before succumbing to injuries.
The event was organized by a 17-year-old girl, reportedly with her mother present at the time. Despite this, the mother claimed no knowledge of the shooting, according to responding deputies.
In total, the shooting resulted in six people being shot outside the house party, with two fatalities identified as Hector Gonzalez Valdez, aged 19, and Joaquin Ramirez, aged 15. The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has already charged the first suspect, a 17-year-old, with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree unlawful firearm possession. His bail was set at $2 million.
