Puyallup, Washington – Recently, a new suspect, Ethan Nordgren, 18, has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Gianna Stone in late February during an attempted robbery. Nordgren, along with two other suspects, Noah Maurice Loyd Branch, 18, and Daemeion Carmello Purdy, 17, are facing serious charges after a months-long investigation by the Puyallup Police Department (PPD).
Nordgren’s bail has been set at $1.5 million, signaling the severity of the charges he is facing, including second-degree murder, attempted robbery, and assault related to Stone’s tragic death. Branch and Purdy were also charged with various offenses, such as second-degree murder, first-degree assault, drive-by shooting, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The incident unfolded on February 25 when police responded to reports of gunshots on 10th Avenue Northwest in Puyallup. While no victims were initially found at the scene, Stone was later discovered with a gunshot wound to the head and pronounced dead at a Tacoma hospital shortly after arrival.
According to police, the shooting was deemed as random, stemming from an attempted robbery involving the suspects and Stone. The confrontation escalated when the suspects, armed with handguns, approached the group of friends at Sam Peach Park, leading to the fatal shooting of Stone as the car she was in tried to escape.
Cellphone data and evidence from a subsequent crash tied all three suspects to the scene of the crime, confirming their involvement in the tragic incident. Further investigations revealed incriminating details pointing towards Nordgren as the driver with his headlights off during the shooting.
Both Purdy and Nordgren are also facing a bail amount of $1.5 million, highlighting the serious nature of the charges they are facing. Loyd Branch, the third suspect, has a bail set at $1 million as the legal proceedings continue to unfold. The community continues to mourn the loss of Stone while seeking justice for her untimely death.