In a tragic and senseless act of violence on June 16, 2025, a 26-year-old Hispanic/Latino male named Leroy Tinoga was shot and killed in broad daylight in Kent, Washington. The incident, which has left his family and the community in shock, is currently under active investigation.
The events unfolded around 2:32 p.m. in a parking lot on the East Hill of Kent, at 23847 108th Ave. SE.
Multiple 911 calls reported a man bleeding from the head inside a vehicle that had collided with other cars. When officers arrived at the scene, witnesses informed them that they believed the man, later identified as Leroy Tinoga, had been shot. Firefighters had to forcibly enter the locked vehicle to reach him. Despite the administration of CPR and other life-saving measures, Tinoga’s injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The King County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds and ruled his death a homicide.
A 28-year-old Kent man, who is considered a suspect in the shooting, remained at the scene and surrendered his firearm to the police. He is reportedly cooperating with the investigation. As of late June 2025, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting. The circumstances that led to the fatal shooting were not immediately clear to investigators, who are processing evidence from the scene and witness statements to piece together the sequence of events.
Leroy Tinoga was a married father of two young children, a 3-year-old and an 11-month-old. He had been living in Kent for approximately four years. His family remembers him as a kindhearted, though quiet and introverted, individual who was a good brother, a favorite uncle, and a devoted father. His sister, Angelica Fesili, expressed the family's shock and denial in the wake of his sudden death. A close family friend described the loss as heartbreaking and unexpected, stating that Tinoga was on his way home from the store when his life was tragically cut short.
