Man stabbed to death in Tacoma identified. Killing stemmed from prescription drug sale

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — A man charged with fatally cutting the neck of an acquaintance during a drug deal in Tacoma was arrested Friday.

Taldon Maddock, 28, is charged with second-degree murder in Wednesday’s death of Deon McGhee, 21.

The two men apparently met that day through a mutual friend.

Police took him into custody Friday, one day after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Charging papers give this account:

Several people in the 1000 block of North Villard Street called 911 just after 10 p.m. Wednesday to report a vehicle that had crashed in a front yard.

Witnesses reported seeing a man who looked like Maddock walking away.

Maddock lived with his mother just two blocks away.

When officers arrived, they found blood inside the car and were directed to McGhee, who was sitting on a nearby front porch with “a large incised wound to his neck,” records say.

Police performed CPR until paramedics arrived and took over.

McGhee died en route to St. Joseph Medical Center.

Detectives followed a trail of blood from where McGhee was found, through several yards and into the middle of the street.

McGhee’s uncle and friend came to the scene and told detectives they’d been with Maddock and McGhee earlier in the day.

While they were hanging out, Maddock allegedly said he wanted to buy Xanax and McGhee told him he could get it for $300.

Maddock allegedly sent the money to McGhee electronically.

“McGhee told Maddock the money had not come through, and Maddock did the same transaction two more times,” prosecutors wrote in charging papers. “In total, McGhee obtained approximately $900 from Maddock for the purchase of drugs.”

McGhee’s uncle said he picked them up and gave them the car at a convenience store near Sixth Avenue and Orchard Street so they could go make the deal.

After a while, Maddock allegedly called McGhee’s uncle and said he’d stabbed McGhee in self-defense.

While police were processing the crash scene, Maddock’s mother brought a phone to a particular officer and asked him to speak to her son.

“Maddock said he knew that officer from prior contacts, trusted him and wanted to tell his ‘side of the story,’” records say.

Maddock told the officer he’d been in the car with McGhee and McGhee’s uncle when he got into an argument with the two men.

McGhee’s uncle then allegedly grabbed a knife from Maddock’s lap, the car crashed and the three men ran in different directions.

Despite police urging, Maddock refused to turn himself in because he did not want “to go to jail for something he did not do,” according to charging papers. “Maddock then said he would turn himself in after he got his prescription drugs and a hot meal.”

He has prior convictions of fourth-degree assault and second-degree theft in 2016 for robbing and assaulting a street performer in Tacoma.

Maddock was also convicted in 2012 of harassment and third-degree mischief.

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