Man’s Shooting May Have Been Gang Related

A 23-year-old Lakewood man was chased and shot to death in what may have been a gang-related shooting, the Pierce County sheriff’s department said.

The victim was trying to get away from at least two people who were chasing him Friday night across Bridgeport Way Southeast, sheriff’s spokesman Curt Benson said.

At one point, the victim stopped a car on the street, yelled something to the effect of “These guys are going to kill me” and then continued running, Benson said.

The victim was shot several times. His body was found in the parking lot of a strip mall by a Lakewood patrol officer who was about a block away when he heard gunshots.

The victim was identified Saturday as Carlos Joseph Villamor. Benson said Villamor had gang ties.

No suspects had been identified.