A man accused of opening fire inside a Tacoma hospital waiting room — killing one person and injuring another — did not know either victim, according to prosecutors.
The violence erupted around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, inside the emergency room at MultiCare Allenmore Hospital on South Union Avenue, as Puget Press reported.
The victims, a man and a woman, had come to the ER because the woman was experiencing elbow pain, according to court documents.
While waiting to be seen, the suspect allegedly approached them and asked the man what he was staring at. When the man denied staring, the suspect asked if he knew who he was. The victim said he did not.
According to prosecutors, the suspect then said something like, “it’s about to get switchy in here” — a phrase investigators believe refers to converting a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic weapon — before opening fire.
Both victims were shot. The man died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts by medics, while the woman was grazed by a bullet.
Police identified the suspect as 25-year-old Martrice Ryan, who fled the hospital after the shooting. The surviving victim told investigators nothing unusual happened on the drive to the hospital that would suggest they were followed.
Ryan was arrested Sunday, Aug. 10. He was arraigned on first-degree murder and assault charges on Monday, Aug. 11, to which he pleaded not guilty. A Pierce County judge ordered him jailed without bail.
Additional details about the victim’s life were not immediately available. Loved ones are invited to share a statement, funeral details, and/or photos by emailing michael@pugetpress.com.
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