SPANAWAY, Wash. — The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a homicide after a person was found dead in Spanaway yesterday afternoon.
Deputies reportedly responded to a report of a “person down” at an address along 168th Street E in Spanaway at around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deputies found a victim on the floor of a shed with ‘apparent’ gunshot wounds.
Investigators said they found at least two wounds in the man’s head that appeared to be potentially gunshot wounds.
The sheriff’s office did not identify the victim, or provide details on any suspects, but said that detectives and forensics were called to the scene.
“We haven’t singled anyone out,” said Detective Josh Mills with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. “We haven’t ruled anyone out either. We’re at the point where we’re compiling the information we have and determining how to work from there.”
Ross Harbin, who lives nearby, had just seen the man on Friday.
“He went to the food bank off of Meridian,” Harbin said. “So I dropped them off with a truckload of food for him and his dogs.”
Harbin said the man had been living in a shed on another homeowner’s property. It’s not clear if he was supposed to be living there, but Harbin said he was trying to move at the time.
“He was trying,” Harbin said. “But his feet had sores in them and stuff and his eyesight was gone.”
Investigators say the victim was around 60 years old.
“I caught him one time weeding in my backyard,” Harbin said. “Because I told him I needed to get it done.”
Harbin and his wife hope those responsible come forward.
“Turn yourselves in and face the consequences,” he said. “It didn’t have to be-- however you got involved.”
As of 5:35 p.m., KIRO 7 saw a person arrested outside the home. A public information officer told us that the person was arrested for arson.
A fire was started at the home around 3 p.m., according to Central Pierce Fire and Rescue. Two people were displaced, and the shed does not appear to have been damaged.
The public information officer told KIRO 7 that the person arrested for arson lives in the home, but did not specify whether this was a homeowner.
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