Police are searching for a 37-year-old man suspected of stabbing and killing a man in Federal Way after a dispute.
According to the Federal Way Police Department, Jose G. Linares Morales, 37, is a suspect in the stabbing homicide of Oscar Rios, 20, on May 3 at the Cove Apartment Homes, 33131 1st Avenue Southwest. The department stated that after the murder, Linares Morales is believed to have stolen and fled in Rios’ 2018 gray Honda Pilot.
On May 6, FWPD Cmdr. Kyle Buchanan said the Honda Pilot has been found, but the department is still searching for Linares Morales.
According to the department, detectives are actively searching for Linares Morales, who may be traveling with his juvenile son. The department asks anyone with information about the incident to call 253-835-2121, but they do not advise approaching him.
“If anyone sees Mr. Linares Morales or the victim’s vehicle they should call 911 and not approach Mr. Linares Morales,” Buchanan said.
Details of the incident
According to the department, at about 11:04 p.m., May 3, officers responded to the Cove Apartment Homes for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a 34-year-old Hispanic man from Federal Way with a significant injury in the parking lot, the department stated.
According to the department, officers and medics attempted life-saving measures, but were not successful, and Rios died at the scene. The department stated that detectives responded to the scene, took over the investigation and processed the scene. According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, Rios’ cause of death was a stab wound of the chest and his manner of death was homicide.
According to the department, through investigation, detectives determined that Rios and Linares Morales knew each other and that the incident stemmed from a dispute between their respective families. According to Buchanan, the homicide does not appear to be random, and there is no danger to the public. Buchanan added that the homicide that occurred earlier in the day at the Uptown Square apartments is not related to this homicide.
This is a developing story.
