A 27-year-old man has been charged with murder for a shooting incident that took place at a gas station in Tacoma’s Stadium District last year. The shooting resulted in the death of a passenger and serious injuries to the driver. Marcus Riley Langford, who has been in custody since February, is facing charges of first-degree murder, assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Langford is also facing theft charges in separate cases from Lakewood and Gig Harbor.
According to court records, Langford is a suspect in another homicide investigation from April 2022, and he has previously served time in prison for manslaughter in a 2012 killing in Tacoma. In the current case, Langford is accused of using a 9 mm pistol to shoot at a Dodge Challenger parked at a Shell gas station on Division Avenue. The gunfire resulted in the death of 33-year-old Marquis McGown, while the driver sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
The driver who was with McGown refused to provide details about the shooter and directed the police to surveillance video for evidence. Through the analysis of surveillance footage and a federal database comparing bullet casings, investigators were able to identify Langford as the gunman. The lead detective received data that potentially linked the shell casings recovered from the gas station to other shooting investigations, including a county homicide. An FBI agent, who was assisting the Sheriff’s Department with their investigation, reviewed the surveillance images and believed Langford was the shooter.
Further evidence supporting Langford’s involvement was found on his Facebook profile, which was under a different name. A photo posted by Langford two days before the homicide showed him wearing rings that matched the jewelry worn by the gunman. Additionally, Langford had interactions with the Fife and Lakewood police departments in the days following the shooting, and body-worn camera footage showed him wearing similar rings and clothing as seen in the gas station surveillance footage.
Langford’s arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.