Gunman Faces First-Degree Murder Charge

Sat., Sept. 20, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

The Pierce County prosecutor filed an aggravated first-degree murder charge Friday against a man accused of killing a Tacoma police officer during a standoff last month.

Sap Kray was charged in the Aug. 28 shooting death of Officer William Lowry.

Kray, who was wounded in the gunfire exchange, has been hospitalized since the standoff at his estranged wife’s home. On Wednesday, Kray, his wife Samaun Srip and his brother Ting Kray filed suit against the City of Tacoma, saying police violated Kray’s civil rights.

Aggravated murder is the only charge in Washington that carries the possibility of the death penalty. Prosecutors have 30 days to decide whether to seek the death penalty in this case.

Kray remained in satisfactory condition Friday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. By law he must make his first court appearance within 48 hours of being charged.

But Kray is paralyzed from the waist down, Harborview spokesman Larry Zalin said. If Kray is unable to leave the hospital soon, his arraignment may be scheduled there.

Police said one bullet was fired from Kray’s assault rifle and that shot killed Lowry. Kray had holed up inside the home after an earlier confrontation with Auburn police at Emerald Downs racetrack, where Kray had demanded to see his wife at work.

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