On the early morning of Christmas Eve, a day meant for celebration, the life of Jerid K. Sprague, a 29-year-old Caucasian male from Puyallup, Washington, was tragically cut short. The fatal incident unfolded around 3:15 a.m. on December 24, 2023, in a parking lot on Oakesdale Avenue Southwest in Renton, Washington. What was reportedly intended to be a holiday gift exchange between Sprague and his intimate partner, Bridgette Corrine Cook, descended into a fatal confrontation.
Inside a
vehicle, with a third male passenger present, an argument escalated dramatically. Surveillance footage from the scene captured a violent altercation where Cook, a 43-year-old woman from Auburn, allegedly punched Sprague multiple times in the head from her position in the backseat while he was in the driver's seat. A struggle ensued within the confined space of the car involving all three occupants. During this struggle, a firearm appeared in Cook's hand. The video evidence reportedly shows the gun being aimed at Sprague's head before a single shot was fired, shattering the driver's side window.
The bullet struck Jerid K. Sprague in the head, causing a fatal wound. In the moments that followed, Cook and the other passenger were seen on video removing Sprague from the driver's seat and leaving him in the parking lot. They then attempted to flee the scene in the vehicle but were quickly stopped by responding law enforcement officers. Initially, both Cook and the male passenger were detained for questioning. However, they were released at the time due to what was deemed insufficient evidence.
In the course of the investigation, detectives uncovered more evidence that pointed to Cook as the perpetrator. She was arrested on January 12, 2024, and subsequently charged with second-degree murder in a case designated as domestic violence. During questioning, Cook provided conflicting accounts, at one point suggesting Sprague had shot himself and later accusing the other male passenger. A 9mm firearm was recovered from the vehicle. Prosecutors have charged Bridgette Corrine Cook, and she is being held in King County Jail on $1 million bail as she awaits trial.
