Jacques Dothard charged with the murder of Tom Lorezca

A Washington state man was arrested and charged earlier this week after allegedly shooting and killing a plumber he hired.

Jacques Dothard55, is charged with first-degree murder, fabricating evidence and five counts of illegal possession of a firearm, according to prison records.

At approximately 8 p.m. on the night of May 23, 2022, South Sound 911 received a report of shots being fired at an apartment building in Spanaway, Washington, a census-designated location approximately 30 miles east of Olympia, Washington.

According to Seattle NBC affiliate KING, the 911 caller reported seeing a body in the truck parked outside the home.

Detectives with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) reportedly saw Dothard sitting in the driver’s seat of the truck when they arrived. The defendant then allegedly went inside before later surrendering to law enforcement.

A 40-year-old man was in the truck Tom Lorezca, who suffers from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the spot.

In comments to the TV network, the deceased’s siblings said he was “humble” and the “definition of an older brother”. They added that his work speaks for itself and that he is committed to the work. His brothers declined to appear on camera so soon after the tragic loss of the man who was always there for them.

Lorezca was also remembered as a man who loved dogs and enjoyed driving.

Investigators believe the violence unfolded after Dothard drove over a drain pipe and called Lorezca to help him fix it. When the plumber arrived, he was confronted by the defendant before he could even get out of his truck; Dothard immediately accused Lorezca of hitting his goal and opened fire, according to the PCSD.

Indictment documents obtained by KING cite surveillance footage allegedly showing Dothard approaching the driver’s side of the victim’s truck and then firing seven shots at Lorezca.

After the shooting, the defendant allegedly took what law enforcement described as a “bag full of guns” to a neighbor’s house and asked him to keep them for a while. Deputies said they later found six guns at the neighbor’s house, including several empty magazines, loaded magazines of various calibers, gun cases and a “military-style” vest with Dothard’s name taped to it.

The defendant made a first court appearance and pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Dothard reportedly informed the judge that he has a VA disability and is considered 100% disabled. He is being held on $1.5 million bail.

Those court documents say that PCSD had previously failed to respond to a welfare review request in late March this year. Dothard is believed to have called the Veteran’s Crisis Line about an argument with his son in which the defendant threatened to punish him.

In response to questions about their non-response earlier this year, the PCSD told KING journalist Kristin Goodwillie that they had no indication that Dothard’s son was with him or that he was in any danger and that because of his “history with law enforcement agencies” they decided not to contact them in order to “de-escalate the situation.”

[image via screengrab/KING]

Do you have a tip we should know? [email protected]