A photo of slain store-owner Soon Ja Nam, 79, hangs next to the doorway of the Handy Corner Food Store on Tuesday in Puyallup. Expressions of support and mourning from the community have continued since Nam was shot and killed Saturday during a robbery. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A photo of slain store-owner Soon Ja Nam, 79, hangs next to the doorway of the Handy Corner Food Store on Tuesday in Puyallup. Expressions of support and mourning from the community have continued since Nam was shot and killed Saturday during a robbery. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

1 dead, 1 arrested in killing of Puyallup store owner

A 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday in Tacoma.

  • By Wire Service
  • Thursday, May 2, 2019 4:56pm
  • Northwest

Associated Press

TACOMA — Investigators say they have found two teenagers suspected of robbing and killing a 79-year-old convenience store owner in Puyallup Saturday.

The News Tribune reported that a 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday in Tacoma. Authorities say the body of the other teen washed up on shore Monday with a gunshot wound in northeast Tacoma.

Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer says detectives hadn’t determined which one shot Soon Ja Nam in the back after she gave them money from her cash register.

Troyer says their getaway car was found Sunday in Federal Way with the license plate removed and that detectives then searched for a boy associated with the car.

Troyer says the boy found on the shoreline was associated with the car and that his death is being investigated as a homicide.

The other teen was booked into jail on suspicion of murder and robbery.

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