Today Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Darrin Brooks, 48, with murder in the second degree for shooting and killing his wife, Renee Brooks, 28,  in their Tacoma apartment. He was arraigned today and bail was set at $1 million.

“This is another unfortunate example of how domestic violence can escalate,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.

On July 3, 2014, the defendant and his wife had an argument about an as yet unknown subject, which became physical. He pulled out a gun and shot the victim several times in the head. The defendant immediately left the apartment.

After not hearing from the victim for several days, the victim’s friend went to the apartment on July 4, and found the victim dead in her bedroom. The friend called 911.

In the bedroom, police found the victim covered in blood and lying on a mattress. Witnesses told police they heard two to three “pops” on the morning of July 4, and then saw the defendant running from the apartment.

On July 5, patrol officers spotted the defendant driving a vehicle that was reported stolen two days earlier. After a short chase, he was taken into custody. The defendant told officers that he had talked to his father and was going to turn himself in, but he was nervous. The defendant told detectives, “I can’t believe I just did this.”

Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.