In the early morning hours of September 14, 2024, the life of 15-year-old Moses Tillman was tragically cut short on a street in Tacoma, Washington. The Black / African American male was fatally shot in the torso in what authorities have described as a gun transaction gone wrong. The incident unfolded shortly before 4 a.m. in the 1300 block of East 67th Street, where Tillman, accompanied by his cousin, had arranged to meet with two other teenagers.
According to accounts from Tillman's
cousin, the meeting was intended to be a trade; Tillman's gun and $300 for a firearm offered by the other party. However, the exchange took a violent turn when one of the teens allegedly grabbed Tillman's weapon, leading to a struggle. In the midst of this "tug of war," multiple gunshots rang out, and Tillman was struck. A witness in the area reported hearing someone yell "Run" twice, followed by the sound of six to eight gunshots. Despite the immediate response of Tacoma police officers and fire department personnel who attempted life-saving measures, Tillman succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The investigation into the homicide led to the identification and subsequent arrest of two teenage suspects. The first to be taken into custody was 17-year-old Ziair Gilbert, who was apprehended by Seattle Police Department officers on February 19, 2025. He was later charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Following Gilbert's arrest, a second suspect, 16-year-old Jeremiah Thompson Wade, was arrested by the Auburn Police Department. Wade faces the same charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Both suspects are slated to be tried as adults due to the severity of the charges against them, and bail for each has been set at $1 million. With the apprehension of Wade, Tacoma police have indicated that they are not actively seeking any additional suspects in connection with Moses Tillman's death.
