The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the apparent homicide of a 49-year-old Olympia man on Friday, July 3.
A suspect, a 29-year-old Olympia man, died following a medical emergency shortly after his arrest in Longview.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office is investigating the circumstances around the suspect’s death.
“Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this tragedy,” the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said in a July 4 news release.
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a report of a death in the 3700 block of Wesley Loop NW at approximately 9 p.m. on Friday, July 3.
According to a July 4 news release from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, “Evidence at the scene strongly indicated that the victim, a 49-year-old Olympia man, died due to homicidal violence.”
Detectives responded and assumed the investigation.
Detectives worked through the night to identify, locate and facilitate the apprehension of the suspect, a
26-year-old Olympia man.
The suspect was “both a relative and cohabitant of the victim,” according to the sheriff's office.
Investigators reportedly developed information that conclusively placed the suspect in the City of Longview.
Longview Police Department officers used that information to locate the suspect's vehicle and ultimately take him into custody at a residence in northwest Longview, according to a news release.
Shortly after his arrest, the suspect reportedly suffered a medical emergency.
Despite lifesaving efforts by law enforcement and emergency medical personnel, the suspect died, according to the sheriff’s office.
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office detectives subsequently served a search warrant at the Longview residence, where they located evidence linking the suspect to the homicide, as well as items that may have contributed to his medical emergency.
The suspect's identity, as well as the cause and manner of his death, will be released by the Cowlitz County Coroner's Office at a later date.
The victim's identity, as well as the cause and manner of his death, will be released by the Thurston County Coroner's Office at a later date.
This investigation is ongoing.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office stated. Detectives ask anyone with information relevant to this case to email detectives@co.thurston.wa.us or contact dispatch at 360-704-2740.
