A 26-year-old man from Pierce County has been formally charged in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred during a dispute in Tacoma on April 27, authorities confirmed.
Nicholas Morris James Miller is facing multiple charges including first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to court documents filed in Pierce County.
Tacoma police reported that the incident left one man dead and a woman hospitalized after sustaining gunshot wounds to her legs. During a court appearance on Thursday, Miller entered a plea of not guilty. Judge TaTeasha Davis set bail at $2 million and barred media from capturing images of Miller’s face during the proceeding.
Relatives of the deceased man attended the hearing, and his aunt addressed the judge, stating her nephew had been doing well in life and was attempting to calm the situation when he was killed. Deputy Prosecutor Dalton Smith described the act as “senseless” and “tragic.”
The medical examiner’s office is still working to officially identify the deceased victim.
Details Emerge From the Shooting
According to charging documents, Tacoma officers responded to a shooting on the 4800 block of East Q Street. When they arrived, they found a gray Mercedes parked with a man in the driver’s seat suffering from gunshot wounds. A woman in the front passenger seat had also been shot several times. Both victims were transported to the hospital, where the male driver died from his injuries.
Two witnesses in the vehicle identified the shooter by the nickname “Quicc,” which investigators linked to Miller. One of the passengers told police that the confrontation stemmed from a past dispute related to comments on social media.
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Earlier that day, the group had encountered Miller outside a local smoke shop. After a brief, friendly exchange, Miller allegedly told the driver to pull over down the street. Once parked, Miller confronted the woman in the passenger seat over a prior falling out. When the male victim tried to intervene, he reportedly stood between Miller and the woman. Miller initially walked away but returned moments later, brandishing a firearm and opening fire, prosecutors said.
He allegedly fired several rounds at the man and then shot the woman before fleeing the scene in his car.
Suspect Located and Arrested
Miller was arrested with the assistance of Lakewood police. At the time of his arrest, he had altered his appearance, having recently shaved off his dreadlocks. A cross-body bag found at the residence where he was staying allegedly contained a loaded firearm.
Despite the evidence, Miller denied involvement in the shooting. He claimed he hadn’t been in Tacoma that day, said he barely knew the male victim, and denied knowing the injured woman. He also told investigators he hadn’t owned a firearm in years and suggested it might have been his twin or younger brother—who he said resembled him—who was involved.
Authorities noted that Miller’s statements could not be corroborated, and he was unable to provide credible alibis or contacts to support his claims.
Miller remains in custody and has two additional active cases in Pierce County. He previously posted bond in a separate assault case in late 2024 and has a criminal history that includes assault and burglary convictions dating back to his teens.
