In the fall of 2016, the life of 32-year-old Dustin Reed Kopp, a White male, was tragically cut short in Tacoma, Washington. On the morning of October 18, 2016, his body was discovered on a steep embankment near a state Route 16 overpass in the 3100 block of South 23rd Street. Initially, the circumstances of his death were not immediately clear to law enforcement. It wasn't until an autopsy was performed that the case was reclassified as a homicide.
The medical examiner determined that Kopp had died from a single, fatal shot from a BB gun that had pierced his heart. It was a wound that would have caused a rapid death, preventing him from moving more than a short distance.
The investigation into Kopp's death led detectives to the homeless community living beneath the overpass, a place where Kopp himself resided. It was there that they identified a suspect, 36-year-old Sergio Suarez, who also lived in the encampment. The motive for the deadly encounter appeared to be rooted in an accusation of theft. Kopp had reportedly told another homeless man that Suarez had stolen his belongings. This accusation allegedly led to a confrontation between Suarez and Kopp.
During questioning by police, Suarez confessed to shooting Kopp in the chest with a BB gun during their argument. Authorities also found a BB gun and a jar of BBs among Suarez's possessions. Subsequently, Sergio Suarez was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree assault. He was arraigned and pleaded not guilty, with bail set at $1 million. The investigation revealed that the incident that led to Kopp's death occurred the night before his body was found.
