SPANAWAY, Wash. — A second teenager has been charged in connection with a deadly shootout at a Spanaway house party in late March, which resulted in two fatalities and four injuries. 18-year-old Christopher Lee Jr. Cobb faces first-degree assault charges following his arrest by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the SWAT team, in Des Moines on April 17.
The tragic incident unfolded shortly after midnight on March 29, when law enforcement responded to the chaotic scene provoked by a gathering of numerous adolescents. Neighbors had bombarded emergency services with over a dozen 911 calls complaining about the noise just 90 minutes before officers arrived. Upon their arrival, deputies were met with gunfire erupting from a street fight involving party attendees.
Tragically, the violence claimed the lives of two teenagers, one found deceased in the street and another succumbing to injuries after emergency surgery. Four other victims, aged between 16 and 21, sustained serious injuries from the shooting but are anticipated to make recoveries.
This shooting is an additional chapter in what turned out to be a perilous night for the sheriff’s deputies who were already stretched thin across multiple urgent calls, including responses to another homicide and an armed robbery. Difficulty in managing the surge of incidents was compounded by a shortage of deputies, a long-standing issue according to Deputy Carly Cappetto. Despite the growing population of Pierce County, the number of law enforcement officers has stagnated. “We have spots available for hiring more deputies and it may add a few more bodies to each shift, but ultimately, we are one of the lowest deputy-to-population ratios in the nation,” explained Cappetto.
A nearby security camera captured the frightening scene at the party, showing several youths in the street when at least two drew handguns, escalating the situation to fatal gunfire.
Adding to the tragedy, investigators arrested a 17-year-old, Isaiah Davion Williams, just hours after the incident. Williams faces two charges of first-degree murder and one charge of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Despite his age, he has been charged as an adult in light of the gravity of the accusations.
The sheriff’s office regretted the challenge of reaching the party swiftly as the narrow roads were congested with cars from the event, impacting their ability to manage the situation promptly.
Cobb, who has pleaded not guilty to the assault charge, remains detained on a $100,000 bail. As the community grapples with this violent event, questions linger about the adequacy of local law enforcement resources and the escalating challenges posed by an increasing population.