A man accused of shooting and killing a 30-year-old man last month in Tacoma’s South End neighborhood was arrested Thursday evening in Centralia, according to police.
The 31-year-old man, identified by Centralia police as Jesse R. Henry, is suspected in the death of Brian Roberts Jr., who was found shot April 8 in the 8800 block of Pacific Avenue.
Officers were dispatched just after 7:35 p.m. on Thursday regarding a suspected theft that occurred at a grocery store in the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue. Officers located and stopped the vehicle on Interstate 5. The three occupants initially gave false names but officers eventuallu learned their true identities. The driver, Jesse R. Henry, was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant out of Tacoma for first-degree murder. He was transported to Pierce County and was released to detectives.
Roberts died in the hospital, and the Pierce County medical examiner later determined his cause of death was a shotgun wound to the abdomen.
Tacoma Police Department on Friday said detectives and forensic staff identified a homicide suspect and developed probable cause for his arrest. Police said a warrant for first-degree murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm was issued for his arrest.
Henry was arrested on the warrants by Centralia Police Department and the Washington State Patrol. He was booked into Pierce County Jail.
