Suspect charged in killing of 17-year-old Shoreline girl
SHORELINE, Wash. - Murder and attempted murder charges have been filed against the suspect in a Wednesday morning shooting that killed a 17-year-old Shoreline girl and critically wounded an 18-year-old man.
The King County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect Friday as Joseph D. Cooley, 20, and court documents say he opened fire on the two victims without provocation, then fled the scene. He remains at large.
Sheriff's officials also identified the girl who died as Tiana Montgomery, a student at Shorecrest High School. The 18-year-old man, a student at Shorewood, is identified in court documents as Darrold Edwards.
Montgomery was shot dead and Edwards was critically wounded when Cooley opened fire on them in an apartment building parking lot in the 300 block of NW Richmond Road at roughly 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, court documents say.
Both had been shot multiple times, and officials said the SUV they were in was riddled with bullet holes.
According to court documents and the police report, Edwards and Montgomery and another friend had agreed to meet Cooley and two of his friends in the parking lot so they could return a cell phone that belonged to Cooley's friend.
Cooley and his friends were waiting in Cooley's blue Ford Mustang when Edwards and Montgomery arrived, and one of those friends got into an argument with Montgomery as she sat in the driver's seat of the SUV.
Prior to this meeting, Edwards had only met Cooley once before, court documents say.
Cooley then walked over to the passenger side of the SUV, where Edwards was sitting, and racked back the slide of a handgun, according to court documents.
Edwards then got out of the SUV to confront Cooley, and that's when Cooley opened fire at Edwards, hitting him in the knee, court papers say.
Edwards screamed and turned to jump back into the passenger seat of the SUV, and he was shot at least two more times in the back, court papers say. Altogether, several shots were fired.
As Edwards got back into the SUV, Montgomery drove out of the parking lot at high speed. She was crying and telling Edwards she had been shot, too.
She then passed out, and the SUV came to a stop. Despite his injuries, Edwards was able to get into the driver's seat and drive toward the local police station. When he saw patrol cars responding to the shooting, he flagged them down.
Medics were immediately called to begin emergency treatment, but Montgomery died of her injuries. Edwards was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.
The next day, officers located Cooley's blue Mustang behind his place of employment, a medical marijuana clinic at NW 85th and 2nd NW.
Survillance video showed that Cooley had dropped the car off there about a half-hour after the shootings, then left with another employee, court documents say. He hasn't been seen since.
Cooley is still at large and sheriff's officials say they are working "tirelessly" to find and arrest him. He stands 5-feet-2-inches tall, weighs about 110 pounds and is believed to be armed, said Sgt. Rodney Chinnick of the King County Sheriff's Office.
Anyone who has seen Cooley since the murder is asked to call 911 immediately and is warned not to approach Cooley.
Prosecutors have asked that bail be set at $2 million after Cooley is found and arrested.
The King County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect Friday as Joseph D. Cooley, 20, and court documents say he opened fire on the two victims without provocation, then fled the scene. He remains at large.
Sheriff's officials also identified the girl who died as Tiana Montgomery, a student at Shorecrest High School. The 18-year-old man, a student at Shorewood, is identified in court documents as Darrold Edwards.
Montgomery was shot dead and Edwards was critically wounded when Cooley opened fire on them in an apartment building parking lot in the 300 block of NW Richmond Road at roughly 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, court documents say.
Both had been shot multiple times, and officials said the SUV they were in was riddled with bullet holes.
According to court documents and the police report, Edwards and Montgomery and another friend had agreed to meet Cooley and two of his friends in the parking lot so they could return a cell phone that belonged to Cooley's friend.
Cooley and his friends were waiting in Cooley's blue Ford Mustang when Edwards and Montgomery arrived, and one of those friends got into an argument with Montgomery as she sat in the driver's seat of the SUV.
Prior to this meeting, Edwards had only met Cooley once before, court documents say.
Cooley then walked over to the passenger side of the SUV, where Edwards was sitting, and racked back the slide of a handgun, according to court documents.
Edwards then got out of the SUV to confront Cooley, and that's when Cooley opened fire at Edwards, hitting him in the knee, court papers say.
Edwards screamed and turned to jump back into the passenger seat of the SUV, and he was shot at least two more times in the back, court papers say. Altogether, several shots were fired.
As Edwards got back into the SUV, Montgomery drove out of the parking lot at high speed. She was crying and telling Edwards she had been shot, too.
She then passed out, and the SUV came to a stop. Despite his injuries, Edwards was able to get into the driver's seat and drive toward the local police station. When he saw patrol cars responding to the shooting, he flagged them down.
Medics were immediately called to begin emergency treatment, but Montgomery died of her injuries. Edwards was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.
The next day, officers located Cooley's blue Mustang behind his place of employment, a medical marijuana clinic at NW 85th and 2nd NW.
Survillance video showed that Cooley had dropped the car off there about a half-hour after the shootings, then left with another employee, court documents say. He hasn't been seen since.
Cooley is still at large and sheriff's officials say they are working "tirelessly" to find and arrest him. He stands 5-feet-2-inches tall, weighs about 110 pounds and is believed to be armed, said Sgt. Rodney Chinnick of the King County Sheriff's Office.
Anyone who has seen Cooley since the murder is asked to call 911 immediately and is warned not to approach Cooley.
Prosecutors have asked that bail be set at $2 million after Cooley is found and arrested.
