On the night of February 6, 2021, a gathering of approximately 50 people at an after-hours nightclub in Tacoma, Washington, turned deadly. Terrance Paige, a 29-year-old Black / African American man from Kent, was fatally shot inside the Gatekeepers Club, located in the 3600 block of East McKinley Avenue. The establishment was reportedly operating without the necessary permits for a large gathering.
Paige was at the club with his brother and two friends when an argument broke out with another group.
Though the specifics of the initial dispute remain unclear, witnesses reported that one of Paige's friends attempted to de-escalate the situation and encouraged their group to leave. As they were making their way out, Paige turned and made an insulting comment towards the other group. Shortly after this exchange, gunfire erupted. Paige was struck by multiple bullets and was carried downstairs, where responding officers found him. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The shooting also resulted in injuries to three other individuals. A 28-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were transported to a local hospital with serious and non-life-threatening injuries, respectively. A fourth victim, a 34-year-old man, arrived at the hospital separately with a gunshot wound to his hand.
In the ensuing investigation, detectives utilized witness descriptions and social media to identify a suspect. At least one witness was able to positively identify the alleged gunman from a photo lineup. On March 3, 2021, with the assistance of the South Sound Gang Task Force, authorities arrested 21-year-old Nathaniel Walsky. He was subsequently charged with two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree assault, and one count of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Walsky pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his bail was set at $1 million. His criminal history includes a prior conviction that prohibited him from legally possessing a firearm.
