On October 30, 2023, a 26-year-old Black / African American man named Tyair Maurice Stump of Renton, Washington, was fatally shot in the nearby suburb of Newcastle. The incident that led to his death unfolded in the early morning hours, around 2:27 a.m., outside the Newcastle Library on Newcastle Way Southeast. King County Sheriff's deputies responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots and discovered Stump on the ground with a gunshot wound to his chest.
First responders provided medical aid, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to a suspect. A 23-year-old woman, Bryanna Bernandez, was standing about 30 feet from the scene when police arrived. She identified herself to the officers and stated that she had shot her boyfriend after he assaulted her. Bernandez was arrested without incident. Investigators found two firearms at the scene, one in Bernandez's purse and another in her vehicle, along with five fired 9mm casings.
Court documents and surveillance footage provided more insight into the moments preceding the fatal shooting. A physical confrontation reportedly occurred inside Bernandez's vehicle. Bernandez alleged that Stump had punched her in the face and struck her on the head with his handgun. Surveillance video showed that after the confrontation, Stump exited the vehicle and was standing outside. At that point, Bernandez aimed her gun at Stump and fired twice. As Stump fell and tried to get up and run, she fired three more shots at him. According to the footage, she then drove away, only to return about 10 minutes later as police were arriving. A King County Superior Court judge subsequently found probable cause to charge Bryanna Bernandez with murder in the first degree, with prosecutors arguing the act was premeditated.
