On the morning of June 2, 2026, Joseph Richard Allen, 54, was fatally shot inside the KOZ Apartments at 824 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood after a confrontation with another resident, 32-year-old Seth Asis Medina. The encounter began in an elevator when the two men, both accompanied by dogs, exchanged words; previous disputes had involved Medina’s dog’s aggressive behavior. Allen had a Byrna less-lethal launcher, described as bright orange, but investigators say it was loaded with steel balls and was never fired.

Court documents and surveillance footage form the core of the reconstruction: Allen stepped into the elevator with his dogs, attempted to leave as the doors were closing, and raised the launcher while extending a hand to push past Medina. Prosecutors allege Medina pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired a single shot that struck Allen.

Bail was set with GPS monitoring and travel restrictions; the defense has indicated self-defense will be raised and noted Medina’s need for medical treatment for kidney failure. Surveillance evidence and past complaints about Medina’s dog are central to the case; many details about motive and what happened in the moments before the shot remain under legal review. Does anyone have information about interactions between these residents or the incidents with the dog that preceded this fatal confrontation?