TACOMA, WA – Today, a jury convicted Christopher William Olsen, 34, of murder in the first degree for a 2014 shooting in Fredrickson that killed Robert Ward, 24. Olsen is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. in room 207 of the County-City Building in Tacoma.
“Deputy Prosecutors Tim Lewis and Sean Waite worked hard with sheriff’s detectives to convict the defendant, who was a serious threat to public safety,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.
On Feb. 16, 2014, Olsen told his friends that Ward had stolen a truck from him, and he asked them where he could find Ward. Olsen’s plan was to lure Ward to a phony drug deal and ambush him. Later that night, Ward arrived in the parking lot at Canyon Road and 176th Street for the drug deal. Olsen pulled in behind Ward and began firing shots at him. Ward attempted to drive away, but Olsen chased him and continued firing from a pickup truck. One of the bullets struck Ward in the head, causing him to crash his car. He was transported to the hospital, where he died the next day.
Using cell phone records, Pierce County Sheriff’s detectives tracked Olsen to Idaho and arrested him.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Songer
Communications and Public Information Coordinator
Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
253-798-6265
253-380-5856
[email protected]