Today Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Agyei McDaniel, 38, with Murder in the Second Degree for causing the death of 40-year-old Patrick Nicholas. The defendant was arraigned today and bail was set at $1.5 million.

On December 4, the defendant and the victim were at a storage facility in Tacoma with their respective spouses. The couples, who are related by marriage, have neighboring storage units. The defendant and victim had been arguing all day. Both were carrying guns. According to the defendant, the victim “ran up” on him and reached into his coat pocket as if grabbing for a gun. The defendant shot the victim twice. The defendant and his wife fled the scene in their car. The victim was transported to the hospital and died the next day.

The investigation showed that both the victim and the defendant have ties to the Hilltop Crips. The defendant has prior felony convictions.

Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.