JBLM Soldier Shooting: Army Ranger Charged

LAKEWOOD, WA - A soldier stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord was arraigned Monday in connection to the recent shooting of a fellow JBLM soldier inside a Parkland apartment.

Spc. Thomas P. Popek, 22, was charged with second-degree assault in connection to the Saturday shooting. According to court documents, Popek, an Army Ranger, allegedly shot the 23-year-old victim in the neck at close range.

The victim is in critical condition at a local hospital on life support, and is unable to breathe on his own. Pierce County prosecutors may amend the charge against Popek if the victim's condition changes. Popek's next court date is scheduled for March 3, and he is not being held in jail.

The incident happened around 3 p.m. Saturday inside a Parkland apartment along 115th Street Court East. Popek and the victim were getting ready to go to a gun range, according to court documents, and were cleaning their handguns. Popek allegedly pointed a .45 caliber handgun at the victim and, not knowing there was a round in the chamber, pulled the trigger.

"I accidentally shot [the victim] with my handgun," Popek told police at the scene, according to court records. "I was cleaning the gun while sitting on the couch. We were going to shoot some guns at the range. I was fooling around with the gun while cleaning it. [He] was standing in front of me. I pointed the gun at [him] and pulled the trigger. The gun went off. I did not know there was a bullet in the chamber. I thought it hit him in the torso, but it hit him in the neck.”

Court documents note that Popek had just returned from deployment five days before the incident, and had extensive firearms training.

The victim is reportedly from Hudson, New Hampshire.

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