A deadly shooting in Tacoma may have been caused by a dispute between two men over a woman, according to murder charges filed against the alleged shooter. The incident resulted in the death of a 57-year-old man and the injury of his brother. The accused, William Pelkey, has been charged with multiple offenses including murder and attempted murder. Pelkey admitted to being the gunman and said he shot the victim’s brother to prevent him from talking. The shooting took place in a bank parking lot and the police found evidence linking Pelkey to the crime. A search warrant was executed at Pelkey’s residence where several items were seized, but a gun was not recovered. Peter Talbot reported
Title: Fatal Shooting in Tacoma Allegedly Stemmed from Dispute Over Woman
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Subtitle: Murder Charges Filed Against Alleged Gunman in Tacoma Shooting Incident
By Peter Talbot, Criminal Justice Reporter
Date: [Insert Date]
Tacoma, UK – A deadly shooting in Tacoma may have resulted from a heated dispute between two men over a woman, according to murder charges brought against the alleged gunman. The incident, which took place on August 27th, left one man dead and his brother injured.
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In court documents filed by Pierce County prosecutors on Friday, it was revealed that William Pelkey’s girlfriend had reported being raped by a man in April. Pelkey and the accused rapist, who denied the allegation during a police interview, had engaged in several arguments about the incident. The confrontation reached a boiling point when the alleged rapist followed Pelkey through Central Tacoma in an SUV, resulting in a fatal shooting.
The victim, identified as a 57-year-old man referred to as P.J. in court documents, was fatally shot in the head while sitting in the driver’s seat of a running Chevrolet Tahoe in a bank parking lot on South 19th Street. His 50-year-old brother was also wounded by a bullet as he tried to flee the scene. Pelkey, 43, was arrested four days after the shooting and now faces charges of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
During Pelkey’s arraignment, a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf by Commissioner Barbara McInvaille, who set his bail at £1.5 million. Court records indicate that Pelkey has a previous felony conviction and a criminal history in Guam.
Investigators identified Pelkey as the alleged gunman through witness statements, surveillance video footage, and evidence found at the scene. After his arrest, Pelkey reportedly admitted to being the shooter and confessed to shooting P.J.’s brother to prevent him from talking.
Police discovered two bullet holes in the Tahoe and recovered five or six .22-caliber shell casings near the vehicle. The rear window had been shot out, and a witness informed authorities that the gunman was riding a bicycle.
Further investigation revealed that P.J. had been involved in an affair with Pelkey’s girlfriend, leading to tensions between the two men. Detectives uncovered a police report from April 24th in which Pelkey’s girlfriend accused P.J. of raping her. However, P.J. denied the allegation, stating that he and the girlfriend had been engaging in a consensual affair for several months.
Days before the rape accusation, Pelkey had contacted the police to report threatening phone calls made by P.J., expressing fear that P.J. would confront him and land him back in jail.
Detectives also spoke with P.J.’s brother, who confirmed receiving a text message from Pelkey’s girlfriend, arranging to meet her on South Trafton Street. The brother recalled that as they left the park, he noticed a person riding a bicycle, whom P.J. insulted and followed. The confrontation escalated when they arrived at the bank parking lot on South 19th Street, resulting in the fatal shooting and the brother’s injury.
Videos from the bank and a nearby business provided further evidence, showing P.J.’s SUV following Pelkey on a bicycle through an alley adjacent to the bank. The footage captured the two men engaging in a brief conversation, during which P.J. allegedly asked, “What’s up, do you want to handle it now?” Seconds later, gunshots rang out, and the alleged gunman fled on the bicycle he had been riding.
A subsequent search warrant executed at Pelkey’s residence led to the seizure of several cell phones, .22-caliber ammunition, and a balaclava described by a witness. However, the murder weapon was not recovered.
Pelkey remains in custody as the investigation continues. The case highlights the tragic consequences that can arise from disputes fueled by jealousy and romantic entanglements. The court proceedings will provide further insight into the events leading up to the shooting and determine the appropriate legal consequences for the alleged gunman.
About the Author:
Peter Talbot is a criminal justice reporter for The News Tribune. He joined the newspaper in 2021 after earning his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University. During his college years, Talbot gained valuable experience interning at NPR in Washington, D.C., as well as the Oregonian and the Tampa Bay Times..
