Suspect arrested in Thurston County triple homicide



LACEY, Wash. -- The Thurston County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man after three people were found dead last week after a shooting near Lacey.

Deputies said Dugan Lawton was taken into custody and booked into jail Wednesday morning. Authorities said they planned to release more information in a 10:45 a.m. news conference.



The coroner has identified the three people killed as 36 year-old Gerald M. Berkey of Elma, Washington, 28 year-old Jackson L. Edens of Olympia, Washington, and 31 year-old Terron R. McGrath of Olympia.

Investigators are trying to determine if drug dealing played a role in the shooting that also left one man injured.

Thurston County Chief Deputy Dave Pearsall says investigators found half a pound of methamphetamine, heroin, thousands of dollars in cash and about half a dozen firearms in a travel trailer where the two men and a woman were found dead on June 22.

Earlier this week, deputies said they were searching for a material witness. On Wednesday, Enrique Jodeci Lamere was taken into custody and booked into jail, according to the Thurston County jail roster.