Tacoma Police arrest suspect in 2024 homicide near Emerald Queen Casino

Tacoma police have arrested a man in the two-year-old shooting death of Sean Miller near the Tacoma Dome — and the victim’s brother says the murder charge doesn’t go far enough.

Chaston Philes surrendered Monday and was arraigned Tuesday, charged with 2nd-degree murder in the killing of 33-year-old Miller.

Miller’s brother, Wayne McKinley, told KIRO-7 the charge is not serious enough.

“I full-heartedly believe that this was pre-meditated,” McKinley told KIRO-7. “In my opinion the charge should have been murder in the first degree.”

Miller was found shot along East 28th Street near I-5 and the Tacoma Dome on July 15, 2024.

According to court documents, Philes found his girlfriend at a bar with Miller, got into a car chase with him, and eventually shot him.

In addition to the murder charge, Philes was also charged with reckless driving.

Philes’ defense attorney, Jesse Williams, told the Tacoma News Tribune there is a strong case for self-defense.

“It seems very obvious to me that there is a very strong self-defense claim,” Williams told the Tacoma News Tribune. “Seems very obvious to me that this was an isolated event related to what transpired in this moment.”

Williams told the Tribune that according to witnesses, Miller attacked Philes when they got out of their vehicles near the Emerald Queen Casino.

“He’s not some guy who just pulled out a gun and randomly, indiscriminately fired at people,” Williams told the Tacoma News Tribune. “He didn’t murder someone in cold blood. It seems clear to me from everything that’s been filed that he was being attacked. Even if he initiated the confrontation, he was being attacked.”

A not guilty plea was entered on Philes’ behalf Tuesday, and his bail was set at $100,000, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.

Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.

Follow @FrankLenziKIRO