All articles tagged with #pierce county
A Tacoma man identified as a person of interest in two Pierce County homicides was killed by police in Oregon, with detectives having noted him as a person of interest in two separate murder cases earlier Wednesday morning.
Two suspects linked to the May 24 Parkland robbery and the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Braylon Diaz appeared in Pierce County Superior Court for the first time. Alyssa Vaught-Barr, the getaway driver, and Alejandro Lorenzo Diaz, a fugitive in Oregon, faced the hearing with Vaught-Barr’s bail set at $1 million and Diaz’s at $250,000, while the alleged shooter Brandon Torres-Mesa remains at large as investigators say more people may be involved in the case.
A 17-year-old Braylon Daniel Diaz, a student at Washington High School, was shot and killed in an off-campus incident in Parkland. The Franklin Pierce School District says the community is grieving and has opened counseling spaces for students and staff, with additional mental health resources available. A GoFundMe for Diaz’s family had raised about $24,350 as of Thursday morning. Police released video of a red four-door car believed to be involved and are asking for tips from the public as investigators seek more information about the vehicle and its occupants.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office identified 17-year-old Braylon Daniel Diaz as the victim in Sunday’s Parkland shooting; he was robbed of jewelry, shot, and died at the scene, and investigators are seeking surveillance footage and tips while a GoFundMe fundraiser is raising funds for funeral costs.
Five people died in a stabbing on the Key Peninsula near Purdy, Pierce County, and a deputy shot and killed the suspect, a 32‑year‑old man. Four people died at the scene and a fifth passed away later at a hospital. Deputies were en route to serve a no-contact order when witnesses reported the attack. The Pierce County Force Investigation Team is handling the deputy-involved shooting as multiple agencies respond to the scene.
A 32-year-old man stabbed four people to death on the Key Peninsula near Tacoma, Washington; a Pierce County deputy shot and killed him after the attack, which occurred while deputies were attempting to serve a protective order that had not yet been served; three victims died at the scene and a fourth later died at a hospital; investigators are examining the deputy-involved shooting.
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs says it will consider expelling Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank after his Senate testimony was viewed as inflammatory and potentially threatening; the move relates to SB 5974, which would tighten eligibility for sheriffs and could vacate his office if his law-enforcement certification is revoked, while Swank has criticized the bill and warned residents might surround a Tacoma building if he were removed.
A car rolled onto its roof in Pierce County early December 26, 2025, but no injuries were reported. The driver was cited for second-degree negligent driving, and the incident occurred near Parkland on State Route 7 and 112th Street South.
The Washington State Department of Health and the University of Washington detected the clade I mpox (monkeypox) virus in Pierce County wastewater, prompting increased testing and vigilance, though no local cases have been reported. The virus spreads through close contact, and public health officials emphasize monitoring symptoms and vaccination for high-risk groups, with the risk considered low at present.
Six people, including two teenagers and four adults, were shot at a house party near Puyallup, Washington. The party, which had at least 100 attendees, was being rented out through Airbnb. Authorities believe there were multiple shooters involved and currently have no suspects in custody.
Washington health officials are investigating the first case of Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus, in Pierce County. The patient, a man with multiple comorbidities, tested positive for colonization at Kindred Hospital Seattle–First Hill after being a patient at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. This is believed to be the first locally acquired case in Washington. Health authorities are working together to investigate and provide testing for other potentially exposed patients. Candida auris can cause severe illness, especially in those with serious medical conditions, and has caused thousands of infections across the country.
A man in Pierce County, Washington, has been diagnosed with Canada auris (C. auris), a drug-resistant fungus known to cause severe infections. This is the first reported case of C. auris in the state, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
A man in Pierce County, Washington, is believed to be the first locally infected case of Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus that can cause serious infections. The man, who has several serious medical conditions, tested positive for the fungus while being screened at a hospital. C. auris is particularly dangerous for those with existing medical problems, those in nursing homes or frequent hospital stays, and those with weakened immune systems. Health officials are investigating the case and have issued an alert about the potential spread of the fungus.
A woman diagnosed with tuberculosis and ordered to isolate was seen boarding a bus to a casino by an officer who had a warrant for her arrest, but the officer let her go. A local judge found her in contempt and ordered her to be seized and treated against her will, but authorities have not been able to locate her. Tuberculosis can be deadly if left untreated and is spread through the air when a person with an active case coughs, sneezes or speaks.
A woman in Tacoma, Washington, who was diagnosed with tuberculosis, has been found in contempt of court after she refused to pursue treatment and took a public bus to a casino rather than isolate while under surveillance. The woman has reportedly refused to take medication and follow protective guidelines despite the efforts of her own family members and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. The court has authorized law enforcement to detain the woman and force her to undergo testing and treatment at the Pierce County jail.