Detectives say one suspect committed four 2016 Federal Way murders

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — For the people who knew and loved Adam Gutierrez, the night the 30-year-old Navy veteran and U.W. student was randomly gunned down on May 10th, 2016 made what seemed like an eternity of grief, also seemed to make time stand still.

“It doesn't feel like one year has gone by," said Marianne Gutierrez, who visited the memorial Wednesday on the spot where her husband was killed by what Federal Way detectives believe was a complete stranger to him.

Marianne Gutierrez is left with questions of why and who would shoot her husband while he jogged on a sidewalk with his dog, wearing a reflective vest. Gutierrez’s parents say a sense of justice would go a long way to help their healing.

“I just have a lot of questions that I need answers to,” said Heidi Gutierrez, Adam’s mother. “I haven't got any answers. And every day that I don't get them, it just becomes a little harder every day."

But Wednesday, Federal Way detectives told KIRO 7 they are certain they know who killed Adam Gutierrez, and they believe the same suspect also killed 26-year-old Alex Kelley and 27-year-old Frank Cohens in separate shootings in Federal Way the day before.

Investigators say they believe the same suspect, who they will not yet name, also killed Jeffrey McLaren in Federal Way six days before that. Detectives say the one person who caused Federal Way so much grief is currently jailed on unrelated charges, but they need more information to file all four murder charges.

“He was doing it everything right, and it still didn't matter,” said Javier Gutierrez, Adam’s father, who is asking anyone who knows something about any of the Federal Way murders to come forward.

“He always wanted to be a Husky. That was one of his dreams,” Javier Gutierrez said. “So he got his dream, and the (suspect) took it away from him."

Private donations and Crime Stoppers are also offering a $16,000 reward for information leading to a conviction on Gutierrez’s murder, and $1,000 is being offered for information on each of the other three cases.

“That's all we ask, is justice for our son," Javier Gutierrez said.

Federal Way Investigators released the following statement on the cases to KIRO 7:

The Federal Way Police Department needs your help. Three homicides occurred in 48 hours and police are asking the public for assistance in solving these homicides.

On May 9th at 1:01 AM, officers were dispatched to an apartment complex at 1300 SW Campus and located victim Alex Kelley, 26 years old, who had succumbed to a gunshot wound.

On May 9th at 11:37 PM, officers were dispatched to a man slumped over the wheel in a parked vehicle, located at 2200 block of S. 333rd St. The victim Frank Cohens, 27 years old, who had succumbed to a gunshot wound.

May 10th at 11:12 PM, officers were dispatched to a shots fired call. Officers arrived and found the victim, Adam Gutierrez (jogger), 30 years old, with gunshot wounds. Officers and firefighters performed live saving measures, but he succumbed to his injuries.

Also believed to have been killed by the same suspect:

April 3, 19-year-old (Jeffrey) McLaren was found fatally shot at an apartment complex s at 33131 First Ave. S.W., about two months after he was involved in a deadly shooting in Tacoma.

According to a search warrant, McLaren fatally shot Dylan Lee Oman, 18, in Tacoma in January 2016 after Oman had tried to shoot McLaren in an “ambush-style attack.” McLaren fired first; Pierce County prosecutors determined that he acted in self-defense, and he was not charged.

If you have any information regarding these crimes, anonymous tips can be directed to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, a Text Tip or a Web Tip at www.p3tips.com.

You can also contact FWPD anonymously at www.safecityfw.com

REWARD

For the tips that are instrumental in solving these homicides Crime Stoppers is offering $1000.00 for each of the crimes. In addition to the Crime Stoppers rewards, community members have donated $16,000.00 (as 5/18/2016) to solve the case of Adam Gutierrez.

Cox Media Group