In the early morning hours of June 2, 2019, the life of 27-year-old Tyree Jevon Gipson-Faison, a Black / African American male, was cut short by gunfire in Tacoma, Washington. The fatal shooting occurred around 2:50 a.m. in the 3800 block of South Yakima Avenue. When police arrived at the scene, they found a crowd of people gathered around Gipson-Faison, who had sustained gunshot wounds. He was rushed to St.
Joseph Medical Center, but tragically succumbed to his injuries about an hour later.
Detectives immediately began investigating the death as a homicide. Initial beliefs pointed towards the shooting being gang-related, part of an ongoing and violent feud. Gipson-Faison was identified by law enforcement as a gang member, and his death was thought to be a direct result of this conflict. This incident contributed to a significant increase in homicides in Tacoma in 2019, which marked the highest number of such deaths in the city since 2006.
Although police were able to identify the individual who shot Gipson-Faison, the case did not move swiftly toward a resolution. As of September 2019, the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office had not yet made a decision on whether to file criminal charges against the identified shooter. The investigation remained open, leaving a sense of uncertainty for the community and Gipson-Faison's loved ones.
The violent feud that was believed to be the backdrop for Gipson-Faison's death appeared to claim another young life just weeks later. The fatal shooting of 16-year-old Jamone Pratt on July 30, 2019, was linked by investigators to the same gang rivalry. In that case, three teenagers were ultimately charged with Pratt's murder, further highlighting the destructive and far-reaching consequences of the ongoing violence that had tragically ended Tyree Jevon Gipson-Faison's life.
