Victim’s Blood Note Leads To An Arrest

A note a shooting victim scrawled with his own blood on the floor of a convenience store has led to the arrest of an 18-year-old man.

The 20-year-old victim, John Marth, was taken to Madigan Army Medical Center for surgery on Tuesday after he stumbled into the store and collapsed, before writing the name of the alleged shooter in blood.

He was listed in serious but stable condition Tuesday night.

Acting on Marth’s gruesome note, authorities and a police dog tracked down the 18-year-old Tacoma man, said police spokesman Jim Mattheis.

The man, whose identity was not released, was booked into jail for investigation of attempted murder, Mattheis said. He is expected to be arraigned today.

Investigators believe the shooting occurred about 3 p.m. inside a car parked near the convenience store.

Marth, who was in the driver’s seat, was shot at least twice in the head and once in the chest, Mattheis said.