Today Andrew James Boyd, 19, was sentenced to 26 years in prison for the 2013 robbery and murder of Stadium District resident Lawrence Howse, 54.  On Monday, Boyd pleaded guilty to first degree murder minutes before opening statements were about to begin in his trial. Boyd had no prior criminal history.

“This crime rattled the sense of security many of us have in our neighborhoods,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “The plea of guilty provides justice and closure for the community.”

The courtroom was filled with emotional family members, including Howse’s son, sister, niece and brother, who addressed the Court. Dave Howse, the victim’s brother, thanked the Prosecutor’s Office and the Tacoma Police Department for their hard work.

Just before the judge sentenced Boyd, he told him that his actions showed a “calloused indifference for human life.”

On Sept. 5, 2013, Howse was robbed and killed in his condominium parking garage. Just before the robbery, a witness on a balcony above the entrance to the garage heard Boyd or his accomplice say, “Let’s go get him.”

Based on surveillance video and witness statements, police put together descriptions of the two suspects. A recent robbery of a Tacoma Walgreens involved a suspect wearing a distinctive jacket similar to one worn by Boyd.  Jeremy Bennett was identified as the second suspect in the murder.

Circumstantial evidence indicated that Boyd and Bennett followed Howse into the garage when Howse was parking. One of the defendants pulled a gun on Howse and robbed him of his wallet, car keys and watch. Howse was shot twice in the chest, once in the heart. Under Washington accomplice liability law, both defendants were legally responsible for the murder.

In November 2014, Bennett pleaded guilty to felony murder in the first degree as an accomplice and was sentenced to 28 years in prison.

Jheri Flood was charged with rendering criminal assistance in the first degree for helping Boyd and Bennett hide and destroying evidence after the murder. Flood pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 17 months in prison.