James Trujillo, 46, was shot and killed in Tacoma during a burst of violence across Pierce County in the early morning hours of July 8, 2026. Tacoma police responded about 3:04 a.m. to reports of gunfire in the 6900 block of East D Street in the South End/Hillsdale area and found Trujillo with multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators quickly linked Trujillo’s killing to another homicide near Puyallup that occurred about half an hour earlier. Authorities identified 24-year-old Hayes Miles McCloud of Eatonville as the suspect in both deaths and described the incidents as apparently targeted and involving related family members. A relative said Trujillo was McCloud’s uncle and was shot outside the family home after allegedly arriving while McCloud was attempting to break in. Trujillo’s daughter Kristina said the events claimed several people connected to her family.

McCloud was located later in Oregon; he fired on officers during an attempted high-risk stop, was shot in return, fled and crashed, and was found dead in his vehicle with a rifle nearby. Investigators said the killings remained publicly unexplained. If anyone knew James Trujillo or has information about his killing, please share what is known.