The man who allegedly shot and killed his uncle at a family gathering in Graham on Sunday was angry that the victim allegedly sexually assaulted the shooter's sister, court records show.
Raul Alberto Lozano Lucas, 19, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder by the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for the death of his uncle, 59, whose name has not been made public. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf Wednesday during arraignment in Pierce County Superior Court. Bail was set at $1 million.
When Pierce County Sheriff's deputies arrived in the 19900 block of 114th Ave. East, they found Lucas being held down by family members, court records show.
"When deputies arrived, 'everyone' was pointing at the defendant stating that he was the shooter," according to charging papers. Lucas was yelling, and deputies found a black pistol near his feet.
Meanwhile, other family members were trying to assist the victim, who was seated in a chair near his travel camper. The uncle had several gunshot wounds and no pulse. Medical personnel on the scene declared him dead, court records show.
Eight shell casings were found near the victim.
The property owner, his wife and daughter arrived moments after the shooting.
"The owner was very emotional, stating that he had raised the defendant as his son," the charging papers said. The victim and the property owner were brothers.
A witness stated, "... the defendant and victim had 'had a beef' over a rape allegation," the papers state. "The witness stated that the defendant believed that his older sister had been raped by the victim."
When detectives interviewed Lucas' mother, she told them the family had moved to Washington after her husband died. They stayed with the victim and his family until she could get established.
About a year ago, Lucas' sister, now 22, told her mother and brother that the victim had molested her "in some way" when she was seven, court records show. That admission angered Lucas, his mother told investigators. Lucas allegedly demanded the sister report the incident to police.
The prosecutor's office confirmed that Lucas' sister did report to law enforcement that the victim had kissed her inappropriately. She could not recall what else happened.
"The mother said that the defendant was upset that nothing had been done with the investigation," charging documents state.
A witness to the shooting told deputies on Sunday that Lucas' sister related that she had earlier received a text from Lucas stating, "I'm sorry for what I am about to do."
Three brothers who had arrived at the scene moments before the shooting tackled Lucas after he allegedly shot the victim. One of them told deputies that he knew the two men had problems in the past.
"He also said that when he grabbed the defendant, the defendant said something to the effect of, 'No one messes with my family' and 'If you were in the same situation, you would do the same,'" court records show.
