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Maleke Pate, pictured in court, was found guilty of murder in the killings of Maria Nunez-Lese, top left inset, Emery Lese, top right inset, Raymond Williams, bottom right inset, and Williams’ girlfriend Natasha Brincefield, bottom left inset. (Screenshots from KCPQ/YouTube)
A man in Washington state was found guilty of the “execution style” murders of a mother, son, brother and the brother’s girlfriend in Washington state.
Maleke Pate, 24, was found guilty on Friday in the killings of Maria Nunez, 42, her son Emery Iese, 19, Nunez’s brother Raymond Williams, 22, and Williams’ girlfriend Natasha Brincefield, 22.
“Gunned them down with no cause, no emotion,” Pierce County attorney Sunni Ko said, Seattle ABC affiliate KOMO reported. “Killed them execution style.”
His defense attorney had argued that prosecutors couldn’t prove his client’s involvement in a case based on circumstantial evidence, the station reported.
“You’re going to have to set aside the dramatic part of the story and the tragedy that exists here and do your job as jurors, which is to rule on the actual evidence you hear before you, and when you do, you’re going to end up coming back to the verdict of not guilty,” defense attorney Travis Currie said, according to the news outlet.
Nunez’s husband, a pastor, told the station he was thankful to investigators and prosecutors for the outcome.
“Maria Nunez was my wife. Emery Iese was my son. Raymond Williams was my brother-in-law. Natasha Brincefield was my friend,” he said, the station reported. “I hope nobody looks forward to good news like this, but justice is served, period.”
“I thank God for everything,” he added. “The jurors, the judge, the lawyers, the detectives, and mainly the witnesses. I know we probably wouldn’t be where we are if it wasn’t for them being brave and coming forward.”
The slayings happened on Oct. 21, 2021, in Tacoma. Police responded to multiple reports of gunshots in the 4200 block of Everett Street that afternoon.
A witness reported seeing the shooting. One saw a victim run away as the gunman chased and shot him, local NBC affiliate KING5 reported, citing charging documents.
Pate was arrested days later at his home blocks away from the murder scene.
Pate is set to be sentenced on April 11.
