Vehicle sale led to fatal shooting in Pierce County. A suspect has been charged

A 29-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting another man after a vehicle sale in Milton fell through.

Pierce County prosecutors have charged William Morris Rowley with first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree arson, possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, court records show.

Rowley is accused of fatally shooting 45-year-old Michael Morrow in the 6900 block of 5th Street East on April 7, according to the Milton Police Department.

A plea of not guilty was entered on Rowley’s behalf at his arraignment Monday. Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Philip Thornton set his bail at $2 million, records show.

Charging details

Milton police officers were dispatched at about 9:39 p.m. to reports of gunshots, a speeding vehicle and shouting from the Sitka Heights Apartments. A woman flagged down officers on Pacific Highway. She was screaming and crying, telling police her boyfriend was shot multiple times. She was a passenger in the car and reported an attempted car theft, according to charging documents.

Morrow was found with several gunshot wounds in a Toyota Camry on the highway. Live-saving measures were administered, but he later died at the hospital, documents show.

Police learned that the original crime scene was in the parking lot of the apartment building. Morrow then drove to Pacific Highway East after being shot, prosecutors wrote. The Toyota had several bullet holes, including in the backrest of the driver’s seat.

Through interview’s with Morrow’s girlfriend and video surveillance, detectives learned that she and her boyfriend were meeting with an unknown man who was trying to sell a truck. They initially met at a smoke shop in the 7000 block of Pacific Highway East. Then, the man directed them to meet at the back of the apartment parking lot, prosecutors wrote.

That man later was identified as Rowley, prosecutors wrote. When Morrow and his girlfriend went to the apartments to look at the truck, they were not prepared to purchase it at that time. When Morrow explained that to Rowley, he began getting frustrated, documents show.

Morrow’s girlfriend was sitting in the passenger seat of the Toyota when Morrow got into the driver’s seat and started the car. Rowley asked what Morrow was doing. When Morrow began to drive out of the parking spot, Rowley allegedly began shooting at him, prosecutors wrote.

Morrow’s girlfriend said the arrangement to meet was made through a third party who she knew as “Shelly.” Morrow contacted “Shelly” through Facebook Messenger, and she arranged a time and place for the parties to meet.

Morrow’s girlfriend said in an interview with detectives that an old acquaintance who knew about the homicide said the shooter’s name was “Will.” The man told her the deal to sell the truck was a setup, and Rowley was there to shoot Morrow, charging documents show.

A day after the homicide, Washington State Patrol troopers were dispatched to a vehicle fire on state Route 7 near the I-5 interchange in Tacoma. Rowley’s truck was on fire. It had been reported stolen March 27, prosecutors wrote. A loaded handgun that was allegedly used in the homicide was recovered.

Detectives found messages from Morrow’s phone to Rowley that said he was a few minutes behind schedule the day of the homicide, prosecutors wrote.

“Shelly” was interviewed at the Puyallup Police Department after she was arrested on warrants unrelated to the homicide. She confirmed with detectives that Rowley allegedly killed Morrow. She said that after she arranged for Morrow and Rowley to exchange vehicles, she learned the deal was not going through, prosecutors wrote.

She contacted Morrow, but he did not respond. She later met with Rowley, who said something to the effect of, “I dumped your friend.” He allegedly said Morrow pulled a gun on him and told him to empty his pockets. Rowley said he allegedly shot Morrow and thought he shot his girlfriend but was not sure, prosecutors wrote. Rowley confirmed he “torched” the truck as well.

Rowley was arrested on a bench warrant during a high-risk traffic stop in Tacoma. He was allegedly in possession of a stolen firearm and drugs, prosecutors wrote.

Prosecutors wrote that Rowley has prior felony convictions for residential burglary and second-degree assault that were committed when he was a juvenile. He was also convicted as an adult for second-degree burglary.