Kent Police arrested a 25-year-old Lakewood man early Wednesday, Aug. 9 for investigation of murder in the July 15 shooting of a 43-year-old Seattle man at an East Hill apartment complex.
Valley SWAT and King County SWAT assisted in the arrest of the man at about 5 a.m. at the Phoenix Court Apartments, 23913 111th Pl. SE in Kent, the same apartment complex where Jeffery Ray Winn was shot in the parking lot. The man responded to police demands to exit an apartment and was taken into custody without incident, according to an Aug. 9 Kent Police statement.
Kent detectives have spent hundreds of hours collecting and reviewing video, identifying witnesses and examining evidence to develop probable cause for the arrest, according to police. Officers booked the man into the King County jail for investigation of murder and assault.
“This apartment complex has been the hub for extraordinary violent crime, particularly this year,” Police Chief Rafael Padilla said in a prepared statement. “Today’s action is but one of several steps we are taking to identify and apprehend the violent offenders who have terrorized this neighborhood. We aren’t done yet, and I want the residents to know we will not stop working to restore safety in our community.”
Ronald A. Cruz, 26, of Renton was fatally shot Feb. 11 at the Phoenix Court Apartments. No arrest has been made in that case. Amy Dyke, 48, was fatally shot July 27 near the apartments, and no arrest has been made.
In the shooting of Winn, officers responded at about 8:15 p.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing gunshots and seeing people running. Two Kent officers were nearby and on the scene in under 2 minutes, according to police. They found Winn in the parking lot and began lifesaving measures. Officers applied a chest seal to the wound in his chest and began CPR.
Puget Sound Fire arrived a few minutes later and took over medical care, according to police. Paramedics transported Winn to a hospital where he died a short time after arrival, according to police. Police said at the time of the shooting that it wasn’t a random incident.
There were reports that just prior to the shooting, several males were engaged in an argument outside near a stairwell, according to police. There were multiple shots fired, then some of the males ran towards a dark sedan and fled prior to police arrival.
“I am very proud of the women and men of our Detectives Unit and Patrol Division who worked tirelessly to achieve today’s outcome,” Padilla said. “I also want to thank Valley SWAT, King County SWAT and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for their assistance.”
Winn was the 17th homicide victim so far this year in Kent. That number climbed to 18 with the shooting of Dyke. Kent had nine homicides in 2022, 14 in 2021 eight in 2020 and four in 2019.
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