In the late summer of 2014, the life of 41-year-old Kevin Young, a male, was tragically cut short in a motel room in Tacoma, Washington. On August 20, Young was with his girlfriend at the King Oscar Motel on South Hosmer Street. They were visited by a woman his girlfriend had met while they were both incarcerated.
The evening took a dark turn after the acquaintance left the motel room. Shortly after her departure, two men armed with a shotgun burst in, demanding money.
During the confrontation that followed, Kevin Young was shot in the stomach. His girlfriend called 911 for help just before 6 a.m. Young was rushed to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries that afternoon.
The investigation into the homicide revealed a plot to rob Young of his drugs and money. Four individuals were ultimately charged in connection with the fatal robbery. The suspects were identified as Raphael Smith, Marcus Boykin, Aron Skaro, and Brandi Rye. Smith was considered the gunman and was apprehended in Portland, where he had been hiding.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Raphael Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 250 months in prison. Marcus Boykin and Brandi Rye also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Aron Skaro was identified as the driver of the getaway car. The resolution of the case brought a measure of justice to the family of Kevin Young, who had been described as a beloved son and father who had previously worked as a fisherman in Alaska.
