On Oct. 25, 2023, at about 8:50 p.m., Federal Way police officers responded to a shooting in the O’Reilly Auto Parts store parking lot at 32411 Pacific Highway S. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a 26-year-old man who had been shot. Officers and medics attempted life-saving measures, but the man did not survive, according to police.

Surveillance video revealed that the victim was accosted in the parking lot by two individuals who attempted to steal his vehicle at gunpoint. The victim was armed with a legally concealed firearm and exchanged gunfire with the suspects, who fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, according to police.

Before this incident, Federal Way detectives were collaborating with detectives from other jurisdictions in an attempt to identify suspects in a recent series of armed carjackings. That investigation identified two persons of interest in the Federal Way homicide, according to police.

On Oct. 26, 2023, Valley SWAT served a warrant on a residence in Kent and arrested both suspects for their roles in recent carjackings. As the carjacking suspects remained in custody on Kent charges, Federal Way detectives continued their homicide investigation and developed probable cause for the Federal Way homicide. Federal Way detectives will be referring the case to the King County Prosecutor’s Office, with a recommendation that homicide charges be filed on the two suspects.

The men believed responsible for the victim’s death were in custody within 24 hours of the shooting, according to police.

The Federal Way Police Department said in a press release: “Our thanks go out to the Kent Police Department and other regional law enforcement agencies whose collaboration was vital to quickly arresting these dangerous suspects.”

The FWPD also shared: “Finally, but most importantly, our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family. While nothing we do will completely heal the pain they are experiencing, we hope that the quick arrest of these dangerous criminals will allow a sense of relief for the victim’s family and our community.”