TACOMA, Wash. — A 26-year-old man was shot and killed Friday evening after he robbed two people at gunpoint in Tacoma, police said Saturday.
The shooting occurred along Division Avenue, in the parking lot of Frisko Freeze, a burger restaurant.
Police say the man who was shot, identified Saturday as Terry Webb, had approached two men sitting in a car in the parking lot. Witnesses told police he robbed them at gunpoint, before one of the men in the car shot him.
An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
The person who shot Webb was legally armed and had no criminal history.
Police said a friend of Webb’s drove him to Tacoma General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"People do have the right to defend themselves, they do have a right to legally carry firearms, and in this case, this person did," said Officer Loretta Cool, of the Tacoma Police Department.
Officers arrested one woman in connection with the incident but would not elaborate on how she might be involved.
There are no other suspects being sought.
Peter Bstandig, a Frisko Freeze employee, said he was working during the dinner rush when he saw a commotion.
“As soon as shots were fired, everyone kind of ducked and ran,” Bstandig said.
He ducked momentarily by the milkshake machine. He said he saw cars and people getting out of the parking lot quickly.
On Saturday, crowds of customers continued to come to Frisko Freeze, while police worked on developing a scan of the scene.
Cool said this was the first case where Tacoma police used new technology to create a 360-degree scan of the area, which could help develop a computer model with more accurate measurements of size and height.
Richard Cays, a customer who had just come from a gun show, said he supports what the robbery victim did.
“I have a concealed carry permit. I don’t carry, but if I had been, and that had happened to me, I’m sorry to say I would have done the same thing,” he said.
A neighbor, who did not want to give his name, said he had heard three or four gunshots, followed by more shots 30 seconds later.
He said, “It’s better than the suspect shooting the victim, I guess. It’s unfortunate somebody had to die, but if you’re going to rob somebody, maybe you should think twice.”
Cox Media Group
