King County prosecutors recently charged a Mexican gang member for the murder of a 53-year-old man at a Federal Way house last month.
Convict Michael Anthony Espinosa, 25, of Burien is currently being held on a $2 million bail at the Regional Justice Center in Kent.
Tacoma police arrested Espinosa, also known as “Joker,” on June 9 after they were doing a random check on a problem house in Tacoma. They recognized Espinosa from the “Lokos” tattoo above his right eyebrow and the large tattoo on the back of his shaved head, which reads “XIII 13.”
Charging documents allege Espinosa is responsible for shooting and killing Martin A. Douglas, 53, of Tacoma on May 23.
At 2:10 a.m. that morning, Federal Way police arrived at the scene after receiving multiple 911 calls for shots fired in the 1400 block of S. 304th St. They discovered Douglas lying in the driveway with a pool of blood around his head. He was producing “inaudible sounds” but was unresponsive. Douglas was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he later died of a gunshot wound to the head.
Police searched the area and got statements from at least nine witnesses. They also found two 9mm spent cartridges near Douglas’s body.
Detectives also found an upset woman at the residence, which they later learned was her home.
Charging documents state she first told police that she heard gunshots outside her window, peeked outside and saw two light skinned males run from her residence.
But she changed her story the next day.
The 32-year-old woman told police at 6 p.m. on May 22 the victim came to her house and they went to the Emerald Queen Casino. After they returned a few hours later, the woman borrowed his vehicle to “score” some marijuana and beer, at the victim’s request. Douglas stayed at her house while she left with her roommate.
The two drove to the AM/PM on Pacific Highway and allegedly picked up Espinosa and a 17-year-old boy. The woman said Douglas was angry it had taken her so long and was waiting outside when they returned.
Trying to avoid an argument, the woman went inside and dropped off some “stuff.” When she returned to her driveway, she overheard Douglas say, “I’ll blow up this spot” just before Espinosa allegedly fired off one round into the ground. She allegedly yelled at Espinosa “What the f***, Joker, what are you doing? Stop, stop,” the charging documents state.
But he fired a second time, allegedly shooting Douglas in the face.
The woman’s roommate, Espinosa and the 17-year-old boy fled the scene.
The woman told police Espinosa was recently released from prison in March, she knew his mother’s address, his gang affiliation with the 13 Sureno gang and was able to describe the tattoos on his face and neck. Police found Espinosa’s previous mug shot, which the woman positively identified.
Espinosa was previously convicted of trafficking stolen property in the second degree, a felony, which bars him from possessing a firearm.
Court documents also indicate he is a methamphetamine addict with no stable residence or employment. He was only out of Department of Corrections custody for 10 days before he received a warrant for failing to report to his Department of Corrections officer and out of prison for eight weeks before being wanted for murder.
His criminal history includes theft charges, drug charges, assault, DUI, and hit and run, among others.
