Spanaway Homicide Victim, Shooter Identified: Sheriff

SPANAWAY, WA - By shooting and killing his older brother, Bruce Eric Johnson on Tuesday apparently followed through with a threat he made three months ago, according to Pierce County court documents.

Johnson, 50, is currently being held at Pierce County jail on one count of murder for allegedly shooting his 52-year-old brother, Thomas Elaf Johnson, at a construction site in Spanaway. The dispute precipitating the shooting evidently had something to do with the death of the brothers' mother some time ago, court documents indicate.

Pierce County deputies were dispatched to the 1800-block of Military Road South in Spanaway just before 3 p.m. March 26 after receiving reports of a shooting in the area. As the first deputies arrived on scene, they were reportedly flagged down by residents who pointed to a man lying face down in the dirt on the northeast corner of 18th Avenue Court and Military Road south.

The man was later identified as Thomas.

As first responders evaluated Thomas' injuries, they saw he had sustained two bullet wounds: one in his lower right abdomen, and the other just under his left collarbone. Thomas' death was confirmed shortly after medics arrived, around 3:15 p.m.

The witness who called 911 explained to deputies that he was in his garage just north of the scene when he heard a gunshot. Moving to the end of his driveway and peering down the road, the witness reportedly saw Thomas standing by a work truck, holding his chest.

The witness said he also saw a second man in the driver's seat of another work truck. That man, later identified as Bruce, reportedly yelled at Thomas, "You piece of ----!" before firing another round, sending Thomas to the ground immediately.

The witness told deputies he ran to Thomas' aid as Bruce pulled away in the white work truck with "Tyee Concrete" written along its side, heading west on Military Road.

While deputies interviewed the witness, dispatch reported a man who self-identified as Bruce Johnson had just turned himself in to gate guards at the Barnes Gate to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Deputies arrived at the gates and took Bruce into custody by 3:10 p.m. Deputies also seized the work truck.

Searching the vehicle, deputies found a revolver and several bullets scattered across the truck's seat and floorboards.

After deputies took custody of him, Bruce made several statements admitting to the crime, even going so far as to justify the murder as self-defense, stating: "(Thomas is) responsible for murdering my mother and trying to murder me."

Additional witnesses told deputies Bruce and Thomas' relationship "went downhill" after the death of their mother. Bruce had reportedly been living with their mother prior to her death, but afterward he stopped paying the bills on her home and eventually lost the property, which was evidently frustrating for Thomas.

Despite Thomas' frustration, however, it was Bruce who was quoted as stating he would shoot his brother about three months ago, court documents show.

Bruce was arraigned Wednesday for first-degree murder. His next court date is set for April 24.

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