For years, Elijah Dominick Hylton was a man on the run, wanted by federal and local authorities for a murder at a casino. His time as a fugitive, however, came to a violent and final end not in a standoff with law enforcement, but on a city street where he himself became a victim of homicide. Elijah, a 30-year-old Black man, was described as being 5-foot-9 with brown hair and hazel eyes.
He was believed to be in the Puget Sound region during his time as a fugitive, a life lived in the shadows that concluded just after midnight.
The circumstances that made Hylton a wanted man began on the night of August 1, 2020. In the second-floor parking garage of the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, 25-year-old Ty Jenkins was shot and killed. Puyallup Tribal officers and casino security attempted CPR, but Jenkins succumbed to his wounds. The Tacoma Police Department took lead on the investigation and soon identified Hylton as the alleged shooter. Prosecutors believed the motive was revenge, stemming from an ongoing feud between rival gangs. While Hylton disappeared, his brother, David Sekou Sebowa Ward, was arrested and accused of being the getaway driver. Ward later pleaded guilty and received a three-year sentence.
In January 2023, a formal arrest warrant for first-degree murder was issued for Hylton. The U.S. Marshals Service, leading the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, joined Tacoma Police in a multi-year manhunt. Hylton was publicly declared armed and dangerous, and authorities warned the public not to approach him. Despite the pressure, he remained at large for more than three years, his fugitive case file growing thicker with time.
The search for Elijah Hylton ended abruptly on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Shortly after midnight, gunfire erupted on Pacific Avenue in Tacoma. When police arrived, they found two men shot. One was Hylton. The other was 31-year-old Terran Ronaldo Faidley Jr. Both men were fatally wounded and pronounced dead at the scene. The man who had been wanted for one killing was now the victim of another, his own death closing his fugitive case and opening a new double homicide investigation.
Terran Faidley, of nearby Lakewood, was remembered by loved ones for the joy he brought to those around him and the positive influence he had on their lives. His family and friends were left to mourn and reflect on their shared memories after his sudden death alongside Hylton. The relationship between the two men and the specific circumstances that led to them being targeted together have not been disclosed by investigators.
The Tacoma Police Department is now tasked with solving the double homicide of Elijah Hylton and Terran Faidley Jr. Details about what led to the shooting, or whether investigators have identified any persons of interest, have not been made public. The case represents a complex challenge, untangling a street shooting that claimed the life of a long-sought fugitive and another man.
As of October 2026, the investigation into the murders remains active and ongoing. No arrests have been announced. Crime Stoppers of Tacoma/Pierce County offers a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest and charges in connection with the case. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Tacoma Police Department or to submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
