Innocent bystander killed in Tacoma shooting
TACOMA -- An innocent bystander was shot and killed by stray bullets Thursday night after a fight turned into a shooting.
Police say a few men got into a fight around S. Bell Street and S. 72nd Street in Tacoma around 11:30 p.m.
Neighbors Lisa Melancon and her husband went out to see what the commotion was about, then Melancon went back inside to call 911 while her husband went to see if he could break up the fight, police said.
After the fight broke up, people began to leave, but as one of the men involved in the fight was leaving in a car, someone in that car just started firing shots into the crowd, detectives said.
Melancon was just returning to her front porch and was struck and killed by two bullets.
"As they were leaving, they just started shooting -- they shoot three random shots and shots struck my sister," said her brother Vincent Silva. "She just called 911 to squash the dispute and now she's dead."
Melancon, 40, has a 19-year-old son and was a dedicated employee of the city of Tacoma for the past 15 years.
"She loved everybody and nurtured everybody," said Stephanie Bubnick, Melancon's sister. "It's just so unfair that somebody could take that away from us. That is not right."
Detectives say it appears the fight began as two girls who live nearby were exchanging angry text messages and that brought the young men to the neighborhood who ended up getting into the fight.
"I hope that young people can really learn something from this," Bubnick said. "To not be stupid about their anger, you know. Nothing is worth shooting and taking somebody's life."
Police have several people they are questioning, but are still looking for the shooter and are asking the public's help for tips.
Police say a few men got into a fight around S. Bell Street and S. 72nd Street in Tacoma around 11:30 p.m.
Neighbors Lisa Melancon and her husband went out to see what the commotion was about, then Melancon went back inside to call 911 while her husband went to see if he could break up the fight, police said.
After the fight broke up, people began to leave, but as one of the men involved in the fight was leaving in a car, someone in that car just started firing shots into the crowd, detectives said.
Melancon was just returning to her front porch and was struck and killed by two bullets.
"As they were leaving, they just started shooting -- they shoot three random shots and shots struck my sister," said her brother Vincent Silva. "She just called 911 to squash the dispute and now she's dead."
Melancon, 40, has a 19-year-old son and was a dedicated employee of the city of Tacoma for the past 15 years.
"She loved everybody and nurtured everybody," said Stephanie Bubnick, Melancon's sister. "It's just so unfair that somebody could take that away from us. That is not right."
Detectives say it appears the fight began as two girls who live nearby were exchanging angry text messages and that brought the young men to the neighborhood who ended up getting into the fight.
"I hope that young people can really learn something from this," Bubnick said. "To not be stupid about their anger, you know. Nothing is worth shooting and taking somebody's life."
Police have several people they are questioning, but are still looking for the shooter and are asking the public's help for tips.
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