On the evening of September 17, 2022, Ronald Taufa'ase'e, a 26-year-old man, was fatally shot while sitting in his parked car in the parking lot of a WinCo Foods on Martin Way East near Lacey, Washington. Taufa'ase'e had been listening to music when a man approached his vehicle and fired more than 10 shots in what authorities have described as a seemingly random and unprovoked attack. His brother later discovered him in the car, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite the arrival of emergency services, Taufa'ase'e died at the scene. The Thurston County Coroner later confirmed his death was a homicide resulting from the gunshot wounds.
Deputies had initially been called to the area around 9:45 p.m. for reports of shots fired but were unable to locate the source. After Taufa'ase'e's brother placed a 911 call around 10:15 p.m., police were alerted to a man seen walking in the area at the time of the shooting. A Lacey Police officer located and detained the man, identified as 23-year-old John Nguyen, without incident. A search of Nguyen's backpack revealed a 9-millimeter pistol and ammunition.
John Nguyen was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder on the night of the shooting. During his preliminary court appearance, which he attended virtually, a court commissioner found probable cause for a charge of second-degree murder. Prosecutors subsequently charged Nguyen with both first-degree and second-degree murder. Following emotional testimony from Taufa'ase'e's sister, the court ordered Nguyen to be held without bail. Both witness statements and surveillance footage were used to connect Nguyen to the fatal shooting.
