54-year-old Tacoma man killed in parking garage

TACOMA, Wash. — Police in Tacoma need the public's help to solve a killing.

Police believe that when Larry Howse, 54, pulled into the secured parking garage at Sky Terrace Condominiums, 235 Broadway, at about 10 p.m. 

Saturday, two men were able to follow him inside. 

"We believe they confronted him, shot him and then fled the garage, probably northbound on Broadway," said Tacoma police spokesperson Loretta Cool.

Travis Howse, Larry's son, can't believe anyone would hurt his father. "There's no way to describe how much we want them caught," he said.

He says his dad never carried more than $40 and he doesn’t understand why someone would try to rob him.

David Howse, Larry’s brother, said Larry w"ould go out of the way for anybody. That’s why it’s so senseless and so hard to put your arms around why anybody would do this.”

The family hopes police make an arrest soon.

“These guys were evil. They have no respect for human life, “ said  Julie Cryderman, Larry Howse’s sister.

Pastor David Strong was Howse's best friend. He spoke with KIRO 7 on Wednesday wearing one of Larry's baseball caps. He described Larry as "an amazing, giving man who loved his sons, loved his family and was great to his friends."

Howse had two sons and was a boating supply salesman who volunteered at the AIDS Housing Association of Tacoma. 

"The people who did this didn't just kill my best friend. They killed a father and uncle and somebody who would have gladly said, 'Here, take what you need,'" said Strong.

Tacoma detectives believe Howse was likely the victim of a robbery turned deadly. His friends hope someone turns the killers in to police. 

Strong fought back tears as he talked about the need to hold the killers accountable.

"I want to see justice. I want to tell them what they did to me and what they did to this family," he said.

Want to talk about the news of the day? Watch free streaming video on the KIRO 7 mobile app and iPad app, and join us here on Facebook.

KIRO