3 Teen Suspects Arrested After University Place Crime Spree

UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA — Three teen suspects were arrested in University Place Thursday night after a crime spree that included a burglary, a stolen truck, a hit-and-run crash and shots being fired at several homes, according to the sheriff's department.

University Place deputies responded to a 911 call on the 7100 block of 32nd Street Court West shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday. The residents living at an address there told investigators a bullet had struck their window. Investigators said they found a .22 caliber casing near the scene.

At 8:05 p.m., deputies were called to another home, this time on the 8400 block of 35th Street West. Detectives said they found another window had been shot and recovered a second .22 caliber casing.

A few minutes later, deputies say, a 911 caller reported a third shooting on the 6700 block of 57th Street West. Once again, deputies found damage to a window and recovered a bullet casing.

Investigators said another 911 caller reported a hit-and-run crash nearby, shortly after 9:15 p.m. The witness told deputies a dark truck had hit two parked vehicles, before kicking in a door and breaking a window at an apartment complex on Bridgeport Way. Investigators said they were able to find surveillance video of the incident.

Less than 45 minutes later, a 911 caller said an RV in front of their home was struck by gunfire on the 6500 block of 36th Street West. Deputies responded to the scene and found the damage and a bullet casing.

Deputies said a sixth 911 call came in shortly after 10:30 p.m. A witness said a dark truck had crashed into a fence and pole near the intersection of 51st Street West and Drum Road West. According to investigators, a second caller reported three males trying to move the truck from the crash scene.

Deputies from University Place and Fircrest arrived to find three young men standing near a black Chevrolet truck. According to the sheriff's department, the trio began to run away, but the two younger boys stopped and put their hands up. Deputies said the third suspect led them on a foot pursuit, before getting caught and arrested at a gas station near Bridgeport Way.

According to the sheriff's department, two 16-year-old boys were booked into Remann Hall on suspicion of drive-by shooting and residential burglary. The 19-year-old suspect was booked at Pierce County Jail on the same allegations.

After the suspects were detained, deputies said they found a backpack with .22 caliber ammunition and a rifle laying on the sidewalk. Detectives said the crashed truck had been stolen from a Tacoma home Thursday morning.