In what began as a street-side argument, 18-year-old Chase Seibold, a male from Tacoma, Washington, lost his life on August 19, 2019. The fatal encounter unfolded near the intersection of East 32nd and East R streets after Seibold, his 35-year-old uncle, and another man had left a nearby casino. They had stopped their vehicle so Seibold could engage in a dispute with a group of people.
It was a decision that placed him in the path of a man who would moments later end his life.
A 26-year-old homeless man named Wesley Armstead was walking towards the casino at the same time, concealing a shotgun he claimed to have found in a park. Hearing the yelling from Seibold's group, Armstead mistakenly believed their words were directed at him. According to witnesses, Armstead appeared 'out of nowhere' and opened fire on the vehicle, a Chevy Impala. Seibold was struck by a shotgun blast to the face. His uncle was also wounded in the shooting but was expected to survive. Seibold was rushed to a hospital where he was later taken off life support and his organs were donated.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Armstead fled the scene and attempted to hide under a parked vehicle in a nearby backyard. A police K-9 unit tracked him down, and he was taken into custody. Armstead later confessed to detectives that he thought the occupants of the Impala were shouting vulgarities at him and that he fired several shots at the car because he believed they were going to harm him. Investigators found two 12-gauge shotgun shells at the scene and concluded that Armstead did not know Seibold or his uncle, describing the tragic event as a misunderstanding.
Wesley Armstead was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. The charges were expected to be upgraded to murder following Seibold's death. He pleaded not guilty and was held on $1 million bail. At the time of the shooting, Armstead had a pending third-degree assault case and a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court. He had been released from jail just two months prior.
