On the morning of June 2, 2026, a confrontation inside an apartment building in Tacoma, Washington, ended in the fatal shooting of Joseph Richard Allen, a 54-year-old White/Caucasian man. What began as an encounter between two residents and their dogs escalated into violence inside the KOZ Apartments at 824 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood.
Allen was shot once during an altercation near an elevator and died at the scene despite efforts to save his life.
According to court documents, Allen entered the apartment building with his two dogs and stepped into an elevator. Another resident, 32-year-old Seth Asis Medina, subsequently entered the building accompanied by his pit bull. The two men had reportedly experienced previous disagreements involving Medina's dog's aggressive behavior. Building management later told investigators that these encounters had become concerning enough that Allen had purchased a Byrna less-lethal self-defense launcher with management's assistance. Although commonly described as a pepper ball gun, investigators determined that Allen's bright orange launcher was loaded with steel balls rather than pepper balls.
Surveillance footage became a central piece of evidence in reconstructing the moments leading to Allen's death. According to investigators, Allen was inside the elevator with his dogs when Medina approached with his dog. As the elevator doors began closing, Medina allegedly positioned himself near the entrance, preventing Allen from leaving. Medina's dog partially entered the elevator, and the two men appeared to exchange words. Allen had initially removed his Byrna launcher from his pocket and held it down at his side after seeing Medina.
The confrontation intensified when Medina allegedly entered the elevator with his dog, continuing to obstruct Allen's exit. Court documents describe Allen raising the Byrna launcher toward Medina while simultaneously extending his left hand in an apparent effort to push past him and leave. As Allen attempted to move around Medina, prosecutors allege that Medina reached toward the front of his waistband, pulled out a handgun, and fired a single shot. The bullet struck Allen as he was attempting to leave the elevator. Investigators determined that Allen never discharged his Byrna launcher during the confrontation.
After being wounded, Allen managed to move into the apartment lobby before returning toward the elevator, where he collapsed. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Medina moving away from the confrontation and appearing to holster his handgun. Rather than attempting to provide medical assistance, Medina walked away with his dog. He subsequently called 911, reporting that he had been attacked in the lobby, had fired one shot, and believed he might have struck someone.
Shortly after 11:00 a.m., Tacoma police officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Officers discovered Allen suffering from a gunshot wound and immediately began lifesaving measures. Tacoma Fire Department personnel arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office subsequently identified Allen as the victim. Detectives and crime scene technicians examined the apartment building, collected physical evidence, and reviewed surveillance footage. Investigators recovered a fired cartridge casing consistent with Medina's handgun and determined that Allen's less-lethal launcher had not been discharged.
Investigators also interviewed apartment management about the relationship between Allen and Medina. Building employees described previous problems involving the aggressiveness of Medina's dog, which had reportedly contributed to Allen's concerns about his personal safety. Investigators also received information alleging that Medina had previously threatened another person who questioned his treatment of the dog. According to court documents, Medina allegedly warned that individual that he would shoot them during a future encounter. These accounts became part of the broader investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal confrontation.
Police located Medina after the shooting and took him into custody. He was booked into the Pierce County Jail on June 2, 2026, at approximately 1:08 p.m. Pierce County prosecutors subsequently filed two counts of second-degree murder arising from Allen's death. One count alleged that Medina intentionally caused Allen's death, while the other alleged that the killing occurred during the commission or attempted commission of second-degree assault. Both counts included firearm allegations. The charges represented alternative legal theories concerning the same fatal shooting, rather than separate deaths.
On June 3, 2026, Medina appeared before Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille. A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Wagner requested that Medina's bail be set at $1 million, arguing that surveillance footage demonstrated Medina had been the initial aggressor and that Allen had been attempting to avoid the confrontation. Prosecutors maintained that the circumstances raised substantial concerns about community safety.
Medina's defense attorney, Jeffrey Kim, requested his release without bail and raised the possibility that self-defense could become an issue in the proceedings. The defense also informed the court that Medina was experiencing kidney failure and required medical treatment. After considering the arguments, Commissioner McInvaille set bail at $25,000 and ordered that Medina be subject to electronic GPS monitoring if released. His permitted travel would be restricted to approved locations, including his residence, workplace, and medical appointments. The court also warned that violations of his release conditions could result in reconsideration of his bail.
Allen's death brought a sudden and tragic end to what investigators described as an ongoing dispute involving neighboring residents and their dogs. The surveillance evidence, the apparent attempt by Allen to leave the elevator, the presence of the less-lethal launcher, and Medina's decision to use a firearm became central issues in the criminal case. Although prosecutors charged Medina with murder, the defense raised questions concerning the possibility of self-defense, an issue that would ultimately require examination through the judicial process.
As of October 2026, publicly available reporting reviewed for this case confirmed Medina's arrest, the second-degree murder charges, and his initial court appearance, but did not establish a subsequent conviction, acquittal, or final disposition. Medina is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Allen's death remains a devastating example of how a longstanding neighborhood disagreement can escalate into a fatal confrontation, leaving those who knew him mourning a life lost to gun violence.
