LAKEWOOD, Wash. — The man accused in a deadly assault and stabbing in Lakewood when he was 17 years old pleaded guilty in connection to the case last week.
Brodey D. Brownell, now 19 years old, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the July 2023 killing of his neighbor.
According to court documents, the incident stemmed from a complaint about a loud party at the Morningtree Park Apartments at 83rd Avenue Southwest. The victim, 64-year-old Leonard Williams, was allegedly stomped, kicked and stabbed to death by Brownell over the complaint, according to probable cause documents.
According to the court documents, Williams' body was found near a dumpster at the complex around 7 a.m. July 31, 2023. He had been stabbed six to seven times in the head and neck area.
The night before the incident, officers had responded twice to a unit at the apartment complex for complaints about a loud party and a fight.
During the investigation, police were told about a video that showed Brownell attacking the victim. Brownell sent a witness a Snapchat video that showed him stomping on Williams’ head while saying, “You messed with the wrong person.” In the video, Williams is bleeding from his eyes, ears and mouth and appears to be choking on his own blood, according to probable cause documents.
Surveillance footage from a neighbor in the apartment complex shows Brownell leaving the apartment where the party took place several times the morning of July 31 between 3:14 a.m. and 4:13 a.m. Voices of other people were heard on the footage saying, “they stomped him out.” Another person said at one point that Williams was snoring, which police said indicated Williams was still alive when Brownell returned a second time and allegedly stabbed him.
Brownell initially pleaded not guilty last year then changed his plea to guilty on Sept. 17. His sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 6.