Assault Suspect Arrested In Bonney Lake

BONNEY LAKE, WA — A homeless 38-year-old man was arrested over the weekend in connection with an assault that resulted in an 18-year-old being stabbed in the chest. The assault reportedly occurred early July 18 in the forest area behind Fred Meyer and between State Route 410 and South Prairie Road East.

Thomas Wayne Morris was arraigned Monday in Pierce County on one count of first-degree assault.

According to an arrest document obtained by Patch, the victim and four others last Thursday went through the woods from their homes to get food at the McDonald's on SR-410. While walking through the area, the victim apparently lagged behind the others while he spoke on his phone. When he caught up to his friends, he told them he thought someone was following them through the trees, the court documents state.

As the five friends returned through the forest area after getting their food, they all reportedly said Morris confronted them in the darkness. Carrying something in his hands, which may have been a large stick or branch, the witnesses said, Morris asked, "What, you're going to jump me now?"

The victim and Morris reportedly exchanged words before the victim punched Morris twice, telling police he feared Morris was going to attack him with the stick. The victim said he never saw a knife, but after the brief altercation found he was short of breath and quickly realized he'd been stabbed.

The assault reportedly punctured the victim's lung and liver. He was taken to hospital and is still recovering, though his specific current status is unknown.

After a day-long investigation, Morris was identified as a suspect, located, and detained by police for questioning on July 20. Morris initially denied knowing anything about the assault or even being in the area at the time it supposedly occurred, court documents state.

Later, Morris admitted to being in the area, telling police he was there with his girlfriend and another homeless man.

Morris reportedly told police he was there when he ran into "five or six" guys walking through the woods. Morris said one of the strangers told him, "You're going to die tonight," before attacking his girlfriend. Scared, Morris said he pulled a knife from his pocket and told the men to back off, that he didn't want any problems, court documents state.

One of the men then lunged at Morris, he said, adding that he did not know he'd stabbed anyone during the scuffle. Afterward, however, as the men fled the area, Morris said he threw the knife into the woods, court documents state.