On the evening of April 20, 2025, 17-year-old Veron Cordae Lockett was shot in the Salishan neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington. Police responded about 9:30 p.m. to the 1700 block of East 41st Street after reports of gunfire. Officers found Veron with life-threatening injuries; he was taken to a hospital and later died. The Pierce County Medical Examiner attributed the death to gunshot wounds to the left thigh and ruled it a homicide.

Veron was a junior and varsity football player at Mount Tahoma High School, remembered by teammates, coaches and family as a promising athlete with an infectious smile who hoped to become a chef. The community held a candlelight vigil at the school stadium on April 22. Tacoma Police identified a 20-year-old suspect after reviewing nearby surveillance that reportedly showed Veron talking with someone in a car, then running as shots were fired from the vehicle; the footage also reportedly showed Veron returning fire. The suspect was arrested and booked on suspicion of first-degree murder, but the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office later announced no charges would be filed at that time and the case was listed No Charges Filed–Pending.

The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information about what happened on East 41st Street that night, please come forward.