TACOMA, WA – Investigators say more than 25 rounds were fired during a weekend drive-by shooting in Lakewood. Now, the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office has charged three men, Jermaine Laron Abdul Gore, Jr., 24, Dre’shaughn Anthony Henderson, 18, and Gary Jaquel Bowlin, 19, with drive-by shooting. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Investigators believe the shooting to be gang related. All three men have prior convictions for assault and other crimes.
“We’ve dramatically reduced gang violence in Pierce County, but there is still work to do.” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.
On the evening of January 12, 2018, Lakewood Police officers were called to the Sapphire Hookah Lounge. Security and the owner of the lounge called because there was a large group of people wearing red and blue arguing with each other outside and they feared there would be “some kind of incident in the parking lot.” Officers arrived, the crowd began to disperse, and officers then departed.
Later, just after midnight, Lakewood officers were conducting a traffic stop when they heard 25-30 gun shots coming from the direction of the Sapphire lounge. One officer noted that the shots were very rapid and were coming from several different guns.
Officers were able to find a vehicle that fit witness descriptions of a vehicle which sped away after the shooting. Officers pursued the vehicle through Lakewood Town Center all the way to the JBLM gate where the driver lost control and slid down an embankment.
Two of the suspects fled on foot but were caught a short time later. One person who stayed with the vehicle was arrested along with a juvenile.
The vehicle was found to be stolen and inside police found three handguns. They recovered more than two dozen shell casings from the location of the shooting.
Gore, Jr.’s bail was set at $200,000.00. Henderson and Bowlin each had bail set at $250,000.00.
Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For more information, please contact James Lynch at (253) 798-6265, [email protected].