LAKEWOOD, Wash. — A teen accused of fatally stabbing a man who complained about a loud party in Lakewood has been charged as an adult.
Brodey D. Brownell, 17, was charged Aug. 2 with first-degree murder and first-degree assault in the death of Leonard J. Williams, 64, of Lakewood. Brownell pleaded not guilty Aug. 4, and a judge set bail at $1.5 million. As of Monday, Brownell remained in custody.
Since Brownell is 17, both charges were automatically moved to adult court.
The Lakewood Police Department responded to a call of a man who was found dead near the dumpsters of the Morning Tree Apartment complex near 83rd Avenue Southwest and 82nd Street Southwest on July 31 at about 7 a.m.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office found that the man, identified as Williams, had been stabbed six to seven times in the head and neck area.
The night before, officers had responded twice to a unit at the apartment complex for complaints about a loud party and a fight, according to probable cause documents.
A witness told officers that while they were speaking with a group of teens in the apartment parking lot, one of the teens said “his ‘homeboy’ beat and stabbed the victim with a knife when he began confronting them about the loud party.”
Another witness told police that on the night of the killing, Brownell sent them a Snapchat video that showed Brownell stomping on Williams’ head while saying, “You messed with the wrong person.” In the video, Williams is bleeding from his eyes, ears and mouth and appears to be choking on his own blood, according to probable cause documents.
The witness told police that Brownell said he beat Williams first and later stabbed him.
A friend of the witness who also watched the Snapchat video confirmed the witness’ statement.
Surveillance footage from a neighbor in the apartment complex shows Brownell leaving the apartment where the party took place several times the morning of July 31 between 3:14 a.m. and 4:13 a.m. Voices of other people were heard on the footage saying, “they stomped him out.” Another person said at one point that Williams was snoring, which police said indicated Williams was still alive when Brownell returned a second time and allegedly stabbed him.
"You shouldn’t be in fear of your life just for asking somebody to tone it down a little bit," said Sgt. Charles Porche of Lakewood Police Department. "It was not a pleasant find."
Porche said they are "certain" that "what started it" was the noise complaint.
Neighbors were stunned to see the large police presence at the complex last Monday morning.
"It's stupid to do what they did, ya know? It's just like, if someone asks you to be quiet about it, respect your elders," said Mike, who preferred not to share his last name. He lives in the Morningtree Park Apartments. "And then he brags about it? That's what's just sad," said Mike.
Porche said he believes Brownell has not yet been interviewed by detectives.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of death as multiple sharp and blunt force injuries.
Brownell was arrested Aug. 3 in Yelm.