Federal Way police identify shooting victim as US Marine
Published 5:49 pm Wednesday, May 14, 2014
The Federal Way Police Department has identified the victim who was shot and killed on Tuesday in Federal Way.
George J. Gabriel, 22, a soldier in the U.S. Marine Corps, was on military leave during the incident. He and his wife were visiting his mother at the Mariposa Apartments in the 28100 block of 18th Ave. S. when an unknown suspect shot and killed Gabriel, police said.
He died of his wounds while at Harborview Medical Center.
Gabriel graduated in 2010 from Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines.
Sean Copeland, a private in the Marines who served with Gabriel in the same squadron, said Gabriel inspired him to join the military last year.
“We used to work out a lot,” Copeland said, noting how Gabriel motivated him. “He helped me lose all the weight.”
Gabriel enlisted in the Marines in 2011, according to his Facebook page. He was a lance corporal.
This was the third shooting incident that occurred in Federal Way in the past couple of weeks.
Police are asking anyone with knowledge of the situation to call the Tip Line at (253) 835-6799 or visit www.safecityfw.com and click on the “Submit an Anonymous Tip” button available at that website.
