The Olympia youngster who vanished on his way to football practise earlier this week and became the focus of a two-day search has been taken into custody for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of an Orting man. Detectives from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office apprehended Gabriel Michael Davies and another 16-year-old on Friday evening.
Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies discovered the 51-year-old victim dead in his Orting home early on Thursday with a gunshot wound, according to a statement from the department.
The News Tribune normally does not publish the names of children accused of crimes. Due to recent prior coverage of Davies’ disappearance and the gravity of the alleged act, the identity is being made public in this instance.
Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office stated they were checking on the victim at his home in Orting’s 21900 block of 190th Street East because he had missed four days of work.
He had a gunshot wound, according to the deputies, but no weapon was discovered. On Thursday and Friday, detectives and forensic investigators processed the scene. According to Sgt. Darren Moss, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department, the victim had been dead for at least 24 hours before his body was found on Thursday morning.
After a thorough investigation, the precise time of death will be established. Davies and the victim were acquainted, according to Moss. Detectives had gathered enough information by Friday night to make the two juvenile suspects into custody shortly after 8 o’clock.
In Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center, the two were lodged on suspicion of second-degree murder, burglary, and weapons possession charges. After his family reported Davies missing on Wednesday, the local community and media became quite interested in the situation. After his car was discovered abandoned on Tilley Road that evening, authorities started a search. According to eyewitnesses, Davies was seen going along Tilley Road before entering Millersylvania State Park.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department contacted the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday regarding “other investigations and interests,” according to Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza. Davies was discovered a few while afterwards. Snaza claimed Davies informed authorities he had been out walking for the prior day.
The 13600 block of Tilley Road Southwest is where Davies was discovered at 10 p.m. on Thursday, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies claimed to have discovered his vehicle under “suspect circumstances,” however he was found north of that location. At the scene of Davies’ vehicle, police reportedly discovered scattered goods, a tiny quantity of blood, and a broken cellphone.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office stated at the time of Davies’ reunification with his family that no other information regarding Davies’ absence will be released.
