In the late hours of a Friday in Tacoma, Washington, on August 29, 2014, the life of 20-year-old Black / African American male Douglas Medlock II was tragically cut short. What began as a plan to rob a man for marijuana with his cousin and a teenage acquaintance spiraled into a fatal incident. Medlock, in the company of his cousin Denzel Thompson and a 16-year-old, conspired to commit a robbery.
During the commission of the crime, the situation escalated violently.
The group approached their intended target, and Thompson proceeded to pistol-whip the man. In the midst of this assault, the firearm discharged. The single bullet struck Medlock in the leg, severing a major artery and causing profuse bleeding. In a state of panic, his companions attempted to seek help, driving to a downtown Jack in the Box restaurant. Police were called to the scene around 9:15 p.m., where they found Thompson and the 16-year-old in the parking lot. They directed officers to a car where Medlock was found covered in blood. Despite the efforts to save him, Douglas Medlock II succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner later confirmed that he died from significant blood loss caused by the gunshot wound.
Initially, Denzel Thompson provided a false narrative to the detectives, claiming that an unknown assailant had shot at them and fled. However, the 16-year-old accomplice recounted a different version of events. The teenager's testimony, combined with further investigation, unraveled the true story of the botched robbery. Thompson eventually led officers to the actual scene of the shooting, located near South 23rd Street and South Yakima Avenue. Based on the evidence and witness statements, Denzel Thompson was arrested and subsequently charged with first-degree manslaughter and first-degree attempted robbery for his role in his cousin's death. The 16-year-old was not charged in the incident. Police continued to search for two other individuals who were allegedly involved in the robbery plot.
