Tacoma police ask for public's help finding suspect wanted for murder

TACOMA -- Tacoma Police are asking for the public's help finding a murder suspect who goes by the nickname "Beastie."

Detectives say David "Beastie" Turner and three other men, including Thomas Potts, got into an argument with Larnell Griffin in the early morning hours of April 15. Police say they went to Griffin's apartment in the 4000 block of S. Lawrence Street.

"They forced their way in and a shot was fired, killing the victim," said Tacoma police officer Loretta Cool.



Griffin was shot during a struggle for the gun.

Potts has already been arrested but Turner is on the run and considered armed and dangerous.

Pierce County prosecutor Mark Lindquist has charged Turner with second-degree murder.

"This defendant was not the trigger man, but he was an accomplice and, under Washington state law, in for a penny, in for a pound," said Lindquist.

Turner has an extensive violent criminal history, including robbery, assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

"Just the fact that he would use physical force in a confrontation with four people ganging up on one leads us to believe he has a violent propensity and we would like him captured as quickly as possible," Cool said.

Turner is white, 35 years old, 5’7” tall, 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.  He has the letters “B.S.V.” tattooed on his right forearm.

Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to his arrest. Call the hotline anonymously at 1-800-222-tips.