On a Tuesday afternoon in Spanaway, Washington, 52-year-old Thomas Johnson was shot and killed at a construction site. The incident, which occurred on March 26, 2019, stemmed from a long-standing family dispute that ended in tragedy. His younger brother, Bruce Johnson, then 50, was identified as the sole suspect in the homicide.
The fatal encounter took place in the 1800 block of South Military Road shortly before 3 p.m.
An argument broke out between the two brothers, culminating in Bruce Johnson firing a revolver at his older brother. An employee at a nearby business heard a gunshot and saw Thomas Johnson outside a work truck, clutching his chest. The witness then heard a male voice from another truck yell an insult, followed by a second gunshot. Thomas Johnson fell to the ground and was pronounced dead at the scene by the time deputies arrived.
Following the shooting, Bruce Johnson fled the scene, driving to Joint Base Lewis-McChord where he surrendered to the soldiers at the gate, admitting that he had just shot his brother. A revolver was found on the front seat of his work truck. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the relationship between the brothers had soured after their mother's death in a car accident in 2010. Bruce Johnson had been living in their mother's SeaTac home but lost it after failing to pay the bills, a situation for which he seemingly blamed his brother. A witness informed investigators that Bruce had spoken of his intention to shoot his brother three months prior to the incident.
In his statements to investigators, Bruce Johnson claimed the shooting was in self-defense, accusing his brother of being responsible for their mother's death and of trying to murder him. This belief was part of a larger conspiracy theory he held, involving SeaTac government officials and law enforcement in a plot to acquire land for a light rail station. His wife, Tina Johnson, refuted these claims, stating that the brothers had seen each other infrequently since their mother’s death and worked for different companies. She described her husband as a loving family man who would be dearly missed by his family and grandchildren. After undergoing mental competency evaluations and treatment, Bruce Johnson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to over two decades in prison.
