The Pierce County prosecutor’s office charged Patrick Philip Byrne, a 26-year-old Army Ranger stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, with first-degree murder on Friday for allegedly murdering a Tacoma security guard during an incident caught on surveillance camera, according to King5.
The Tacoma Police Department responded to a building downtown on July 18 when a security guard, later identified as Denise Smith, 41, was discovered bleeding, beaten and not breathing.
She had clearly been severely battered, according to detectives, and she was pronounced dead at the spot.
Byrne was charged with murder, burglary, and kidnapping by the Pierce County prosecutor’s office.
After learning about the allegations, the US Army issued the following statement on Friday: “The actions described in reports are absolutely appalling. The Tacoma Police Department has the full cooperation of the United States Army Special Operations Command. Our deepest condolences to the families affected by this tragedy.”
Source: King5
