TACOMA, Wash. — A 15-year-old suspect arrested for murder Monday was talking to the victim through social media moments before the homicide, charging documents released Thursday revealed.
According to charging documents, the suspect was messaging 16-year-old Jonathan Tovar on Instagram and Facebook on Jan. 24, the day before the homicide. Authorities said in charging documents the conversation started around 3:45 p.m. and ended just moments before the Tovar was shot in Tacoma.
Just before midnight on Jan. 25, the victim dropped a pin in a message to the suspect with the location of a U-Haul business in Tacoma, according to court documents.
According to charging documents, the victim sent a message to the suspect telling him he was on his way. The 16-year-old climbed the gate, saw the suspect vehicle parked in the U-Haul business driveway and waved at him, charging documents revealed. Police said two suspects exited the vehicle and began to shoot at the victim, who was shot in the leg and fell. The suspects approached the victim and shot him in the face, according to court documents.
Investigators said the victim was on a phone call during the homicide. He placed the phone in his pocket while climbing the gate. A friend of the victim later told police he could hear the gunfire, charging documents revealed.
The Tacoma Police Department said officers were called around 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 25 for reports of a shooting along the 4400 block of East Portland Avenue. Officers found a 16-year-old male suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said the victim died from his injuries on Jan. 31, five days after the shooting.
Police said the suspect was previously arrested in Lynnwood on another unrelated offense and authorities had issued a search warrant for his DNA. Detectives investigating the homicide used a sample and sent it to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab for analysis. Investigators compared the DNA results from the crime lab to DNA found on the victim's pants and lighter, which indicated that the suspect was likely present at the time of the homicide.
Police said the suspect's vehicle was seen parked at the U-Haul business before the homicide, during the shooting and seen leaving after the victim was gunned down.
Investigators identified the suspect on Sept. 6 and issued a warrant for first-degree murder for his arrest.
Police took him into custody Monday.
According to the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office, it has not been determined if the suspect will be charged as an adult or juvenile. The suspect was not arraigned on charges as of Thursday.
The suspect faces charges for first and second-degree murder, criminal trespassing, robbery, unlawful possession of stolen vehicle, attempted burglary and possession of vehicle theft tools.
Authorities did not release any additional information on the second suspect involved in the shooting.
