Four arrested after Tacoma parking garage ambush kills 16-year-old

Tacoma police arrested four individuals following a retaliatory ambush in a parking garage that killed a 16-year-old resident. Investigators stated that at least four suspects opened fire on a group of people gathered in the structure. The motive for the attack was retribution for an incident that occurred the previous night, during which one of the current suspects was shot.

Ebony Tucker, the victim's mother, challenged the narrative that her son, Josiah, was involved in street activity. She emphasized that he had no gang affiliation and was not active in the streets. Tucker explained that Josiah had remained at home all night, playing video games in his room with two friends, before the gunfire erupted.

The 16-year-old was among those struck by bullets during the attack. Tucker described him as a good teenager who did not deserve the outcome of the shooting. She expressed the personal weight of the loss to the community, stating, "The pain I feel I don’t want anyone else to feel."

Police have taken the latest suspect into custody, a 16-year-old, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to four. The department confirmed the arrests are connected to the deadly shooting.

The family has organized a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral and burial expenses. Tucker said the fundraising effort is necessary to manage the financial burden associated with laying the 16-year-old to rest while the family processes the loss.

The Tacoma Police Department provided the details of the ambush and the subsequent arrests to local news outlets. The case remains active as investigators review evidence from the parking garage scene.