In the early morning hours of April 12, 2026, the life of Tyriek Assante Patterson, a 36-year-old Black or African American man, was tragically cut short in a Puyallup, Washington townhome. A father of two young sons, Patterson was known by loved ones as a dedicated and hardworking single parent who was the sole provider for his children. Shortly after 4 a.m., Patterson and his best friend arrived at the residence of his girlfriend, intending to surprise her for her birthday.
Upon
entering the townhome, they discovered another man, 24-year-old Moses Levin Karovsky, inside. A confrontation quickly erupted between Patterson and Karovsky. The altercation moved upstairs, where Karovsky locked himself inside a bathroom. As Patterson pushed on the bathroom door in an attempt to open it, Karovsky fired multiple shots, striking Patterson in the torso, chest, and leg. Patterson's friend, who was also present, was grazed during the incident. While deputies were en route, having been called by a neighbor who heard yelling and loud banging, Karovsky fled the scene in a car. Emergency crews transported Patterson to an ambulance, but he succumbed to his injuries.
A few days after the fatal shooting, Moses Karovsky turned himself in to the Seattle Police Department. He was taken into custody by a Pierce County deputy and booked into the Pierce County Jail. Prosecutors charged Karovsky with two counts of second-degree murder. During his arraignment, a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf, with his attorney arguing that Karovsky acted in self-defense during what he described as a violent home invasion. Prosecutors, however, highlighted that Karovsky fled the scene and alleged that he may have collected spent shell casings before leaving. The gun used in the shooting has not been recovered. A judge set bail at $500,000.
