Inset: Martice Ryan. Background: MultiCare Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma, Washington (KCPQ).
A Washington state man walked into a hospital emergency room and shot two people, killing one, in an apparent random act of violence, authorities say.
Martice Lawon Ryan, 25, is facing charges of first-degree murder and assault for the Aug. 6 shooting that occurred at MultiCare Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, cops responded around 7 p.m. to a shooting in the emergency room. When they arrived, they found hospital staff treating a man, identified in the complaint as J.W., and a woman, identified in the complaint as C.C. The man was suffering from several gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead. The woman had a graze wound to her stomach.
Detectives spoke with the woman, who said she had no idea who the suspect was or why the shooting occurred. She explained that J.W. was suffering from elbow pain and they drove to the hospital. Nothing of note happened on the drive, but when they arrived in the parking lot and started to walk toward the ER, a man in a red Mazda SUV drove slowly past them with his music turned up, the affidavit said.
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The alleged victims went inside, checked in, and went to the waiting area. The woman noted the man in the Mazda had walked inside as they were checking in, police said. After they sat down, the man walked up to them with one arm inside his hoodie. According to the female victim, the man, later identified as Ryan, asked the male victim if he was “staring at him,” police said. The male victim said he was not. Ryan then asked if they knew each other and J.W. responded in the negative.
That”s when the suspect allegedly said, “It’s about to get switchy in here,” in apparent reference to the device that can make a semi-automatic gun automatic. Ryan took out a gun with his right hand and fired several rounds at the couple before running out of the ER and driving away, police said.
Detectives say surveillance video identified the suspect vehicle as a 2014-16 Mazda CX-5 with a license plate frame from a local dealership. Police contacted the dealership and obtained the names of people who purchased that type of car within the last year. Ryan was one of those vehicle owners and his driver’s license photo matched the man in the surveillance video, the affidavit said.
Cops arrested Ryan on Sunday and he made his first appearance on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty. The victim’s father spoke during the hearing.
“This wasn’t just a homicide, your honor, this was an act of terror,” the father said, according to a courtroom report by the Tacoma News Tribune. “This was an act that took place in a hospital, again, where anyone in this community should feel safe.”
Ryan is being held without bond in the Pierce County Jail. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 11.
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