PUYALLUP, Wash. — A man who detectives said killed his girlfirend in the South Hill area early Monday, was arrested by Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Surrey, British Columbia, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies were called to the 15100 block of 71st Ave. E. in the South Hill area for a report of a shooting at 4:14 a.m.
Deputies learned that a man reportedly shot his girlfriend inside his family home and then ran from the scene with a firearm. The victim died from her wounds.
The suspect was identified as Jordan Eaton. He had just been released from jail six days ago on a malicious mischief charge.
Following the shooting, Eaton was believed to have stolen a van from a business on Valley Ave. NW in the City of Puyallup, deputies said.
The Pierce County Sheriff's Office said Eaton drove the van to Blaine and illegally crossed the border into Canada. Eaton was located at a hospital, ran from officers and was arrested after a short foot pursuit.
The van Eaton stole in Puyallup was recovered in Baline by a deputy with the Whatcom County Sheriff's Department.
* IN CUSTODY * Homicide suspect arrested by RCMP in Surrey, British Columbia. Suspect illegally crossed border & was located at hospital; suspect ran from officers & arrested after short foot pursuit. Suspect was found armed. Stolen van recovered in Blaine by Whatcom Co Sheriff.
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) January 28, 2019
It's still not clear how Eaton got to Puyallup or what happened in the home that led up to the shooting.
One neighbor who lives near the suspect said his family had been there for many years and when police are called to the area, they knew it was likely Eaton causing trouble.
"I know that drugs can do things to anybody and I think that's a big thing in play here. I am not surprised that it happened but I can't say that it would be out of line for him to that," said neighbor Katie Jackson.
Eaton has a lengthy criminal history including unlawful possession of a firearm. He also has a pending domestic violence charge filed after an incident last May.
In 2016 three family members took out orders of protection saying Eaton had threatened to kill them and a family dog.
“He has threatened several times to kill us and his brother and his wife” the complaint read. “He has choked me, made verbal threats taken a knife to me”.
The family pleaded for help telling authorities Eaton needed treatment for mental health problems. “I cannot stress enough that jail will not help him but rather make things worse.”
KIRO 7 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
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