Five charged in 1988 murder that led to ‘gang wars’
Apr 25, 2013, 4:49 PM | Updated: 5:02 pm
Nearly 25 years after a member of the Hilltop Crips was shot to death in the streets of Tacoma, five rival gang members have been charged with his murder.
Bernard Houston was killed on Aug. 28, 1988, in what authorities say was the first gang-related homicide in Pierce County.
“It led off a series of assaults, drive-by shootings and murders that became known as the gang wars,” said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “Like a time capsule, this case reaches back to the early days of gang violence in Pierce County.”
Brian Clement Allen, 45, Terris Miller, 42, Nathaniel Miles, 47, Darrell Montea Lee, 44, and Anthony Ralls, 44, where each charged with first-degree murder Thursday for their involvement in the shooting. Allen, Miles, and Ralls pleaded not guilty to the charge Thursday. Miller and Lee are behind bars for other crimes and a sixth suspect, Joey Courtney, is deceased.
According to Lindquist, the men were members of a gang known as the Bloods and retaliated against Houston for shooting at Allen and Ralls earlier that day on Tacoma’s east side.
Lindquist said the diligent work of detectives and new information from witnesses was crucial in solving the case.
