South Sound News

Milton Police identify suspect in woman's murder

MILTON, Wash. — Milton police are seeking a man wanted in connection with a domestic violence homicide that happened there Friday afternoon.

Joshua Ellis is to be approached with caution as he is known to carry firearms, police spokesman Nils Luckman said.

Neighbor Terri Ward believes she met Ellis a couple of weeks ago.

He and Traynor were moving into the Surprise Lake Village Apartments, where their first floor units share a wall.

"I spoke to him for just a minute and asked him if he was my new neighbor," Ward told KIRO 7's Deborah Horne. "And they said yes. Seemed very nice and that was it."

Ward says she had no reason to be suspicious on Friday either.

"I didn't hear anything at all," she said. "So didn't hear any discharge or anything else."

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But when asked whether she thought a gun was involved she answered, "Yes, that was my impression.

A 27-year-old woman was found dead by a family member about 4:30 p.m. Friday at her apartment in the 2800 block of Queens Way, police said. They eventually determined the death was a homicide.

Neighbors at the complex reported hearing gunshots. Police said that noise could have been the device — not a gun — authorities used to break a window while securing the apartment.

A neighbor recorded video of Milton police entering the building.

"They broke the window," said Nick, a neighbor who gave only his first name.

"A cop hurt his hand pretty bad. And then three or four cops came in with guns and they busted the door in. And then I heard a bunch of screaming. I think they were just communicating with each other. And then they came out."

Anyone with information in regards to Ellis’ whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Amy Camden at 253-255-7933 or acamden@cityofmilton.net.

Click here to read the full article from the Tacoma News Tribune.