Family speaks out after man shoots, kills brother

A South Sound man is behind bars on murder charges following a shooting in Spanaway.

Deputies said Bruce Johnson, 50, shot and killed his older brother, Thomas Johnson, 52, Tuesday afternoon on the corner of 18th Avenue Court South and Military Road in Spanaway.

Bruce faced a Pierce County judge Wednesday.

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Thomas’s wife, Tina Johnson, sat in the front row. After court, she said she felt numb.

“What a weasel, that’s the only thing I can think and say,” said Tina.

Tina said Bruce and Thomas barely spoke and hadn’t seen in each other in more than two years.

“They’ve always had an arguing relationship anyway, and that’s all I know,” she said. “Their mom was unfortunately killed in a car accident in 2010 and it’s been since then that Bruce has allowed the drugs to mentally take over his mind.”

Tina said she didn’t know what led up to the shooting.

“We heard that they may have been arguing for a few days over something, we don’t know what that is, that’s still part of the investigation, and shots were fired,” said Det. Ed Troyer, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies said Bruce shot Thomas in the stomach and chest. Thomas died at the scene. Bruce drove away and turned himself in to gate guards at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Court documents said Bruce confessed to killing his brother but told deputies it was "justifiable" and in "self-defense."

"His grandkids will miss him dearly and I hope that Bruce will find peace where he's at, because we're left to find peace where we're at,” said Tamara Beltz, Thomas’s step-daughter.

"He was a loving man, he loved his family and his grandkids and his family, I mean, he would give anything for them and obviously he gave his life for them,” said Tina.

Bruce is being held on $1 million bail. He’s scheduled to be back in court in late April.

Cox Media Group