Samuel David Pichinini, a 42-year-old White man, was fatally shot at his mother’s home on 9th Avenue Southwest in Puyallup, Washington, on July 23, 2020. The shooting was carried out by his 77-year-old stepfather, Terry Chissus, after a confrontation in which Pichinini reportedly berated his mother and stepfather and allegedly rushed at his mother while threatening to club her. Family members had long reported fearing Pichinini because of escalating anger, threats and violent behavior; law enforcement had a hazard warning on file and there was a documented criminal history. A post-mortem examination later diagnosed Stage 2 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and his mother described longstanding severe undiagnosed mental health problems and prior concussions from skateboarding and snowboarding.

Chissus, who had no prior criminal record, was initially charged with second-degree murder. By April 2022 he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter; the prosecution noted the family’s history of fear of Pichinini and cited mitigating circumstances including Chissus’s frail health and Pichinini’s behavior when recommending a five-year sentence.

If anyone knew Samuel, his routines, or the history between him and his family, please share information that could help clarify what led to that day.