Hundreds gather to remember victims of Tacoma quadruple homicide

TACOMA, Wash. — Hundreds of people gathered in Tacoma Saturday night to remember four people killed in a shooting on Thursday.

The victims are Maria Nunez, a 42-year-old wife and mother, her son, 19-year-old Emery Iese, his uncle, 22-year-old Raymond Williams, and Williams’ girlfriend, 22-year-old Natasha Brincefield.

KIRO 7 reached out to Tacoma Police on Saturday to get an update on the investigation, but there were no updates to provide, with no arrests and no suspect information. But detectives are continuing to comb through evidence in an effort to find out who’s responsible, and why they killed the victims.

Meanwhile, family and friends of the victims gathered at Tacoma Indian Baptist Church for a candlelight vigil.

“(The church) is where Emery spent a lot of his time. If he wasn’t working, if he wasn’t training in boxing, he was here,” said Lauvale Iese, who is better known as Pastor Louie. “I’ve been on the other side of this, you know? Counseling, helping. And this is the first time on this side,” said Iese.

Thursday’s shooting in the Salishan neighborhood took the lives of Iese’s son, Emery, and his wife, Maria Nunez.

The initial call received by Iese was about Raymond Williams, his wife’s brother. Iese was worried that his wife wouldn’t be able to handle the news that her brother had been shot.

“We’re blowing up her phone. My son’s not answering his phone. And even on the way back, I’m trying to think, ‘Did I see any car accidents? Did I see anything?’ Nothing. But it wasn’t until we got to the place that everything else just started revealing,” said Iese.

All four victims were shot and killed under mysterious circumstances.

“(They had) no affiliation with gangs, or drugs, or any of that sort,” said Iese.

The community came together on Saturday night, leaving flowers, candles and messages for the four killed. Iese said the only thing keeping him going is God. He’s hoping his prayers are heard and more answers will come soon.

“He knows what’s right. He should turn himself in,” said Iese.

“Put yourselves in these shoes and see if you can walk. See if you can move on, because we can’t. We don’t know the next step,” said Juno Taulolo, the aunt and sister of victims.

On Sunday afternoon, there’s also a community-wide peace walk scheduled in Tacoma.

Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call Tacoma Police.

©2021 Cox Media Group