In the early morning hours of March 2, 2017, Wilbur Salway, a 46-year-old White/Caucasian male, was fatally shot in the Parkland suburb of Tacoma, Washington. Salway, a U.S. veteran and father of five, had been staying at a local motel when he heard gunshots nearby. He went outside to investigate the commotion and was tragically shot. First responders found Salway with a gunshot wound to his stomach and transported him to a local medical center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The
investigation into Salway's death quickly led to a suspect, Nathan Kimbrell Jr. Just before the shooting, Kimbrell had recorded a video of himself with a gun, talking about "cleaning up the neighborhood." He was seen fleeing the area and was later found by a K-9 unit hiding in a nearby backyard. Investigators recovered a handgun that had been discarded. It was revealed that the shooting was not a random act, but stemmed from a personal dispute between Kimbrell and Salway.
Nathan Kimbrell Jr. was arrested and charged with the murder of Wilbur Salway. He eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. During the trial, it was mentioned that Kimbrell had a history of violent behavior and had previously threatened Salway. In March 2018, a judge sentenced Kimbrell to 14 years in prison. At the sentencing, Salway's family, who described him as a man who was big on forgiveness, expressed their own forgiveness towards Kimbrell. They spoke of the immense loss they felt, noting that Salway was a core part of their family who had been working as a mechanic and was excited about a truck he had recently purchased.
