Suspect charged in Redondo shooting | UPDATE

UPDATE: A charge of second-degree murder was filed Dec. 12 against Johnny Rourn, who is accused in the shooting death of 19-year-old Jayme Thomas on November 5 in Des Moines. Rourn, 29, is also charged with second-degree assault for wounding a 24-year-old man in the shooting. Both charges include firearm enhancements. Rourn remains in jail on $1 million bail. He will be arraigned at 9 a.m. Dec. 22 in courtroom GA at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center.

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From staff reports:

Des Moines police arrested a suspect in the November shooting death of a 19-year-old woman in Redondo.

On Wednesday, Des Moines police with the assistance of Valley SWAT arrested a 29-year-old Asian male at his residence without incident. The suspect was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of homicide and investigation of assault.

Jayme Thomas, 19, died after being shot early morning Nov. 5 in the backseat of a vehicle in the 800 block of Redondo Way South. Witnesses reported that an argument occurred between two separate groups before the shooting. Two unidentified men started passing a gun around, then fired shots into a vehicle where Thomas sat, according to police. A 24-year-old male was also shot at the scene, but has since been treated and released.

Thomas was a 2011 graduate of Mount Rainier High School and was studying at Highline Community College to become a nurse. As a lifeguard, she taught toddlers to swim, and was heavily involved in her youth group at Resurrection Lutheran Church.

The Des Moines Police Department’s Investigations Unit was able to identify several witnesses based on tips and leads from the community.

 

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