An overlapping wave of profound grief and shock has gripped Pierce County following a swift, multi-city rampage on Wednesday morning, July 8, 2026, that claimed the lives of Keitwuan White, 35, and James Trujillo.
The consecutive, fast-moving targeted attacks triggered a interstate manhunt across the Pacific Northwest, culminating in a violent shootout on the northern Oregon coast later that evening where law enforcement fatally stopped the gunman.
| Data Parameter | Case File Profile: Keitwuan White | Case File Profile: James Trujillo |
| Age | 35 years old | Unknown |
| Hometown Connection | Tacoma, WA / Recently residing in Texas | Tacoma, Washington |
| Date of Passing | Wednesday, July 8, 2026 | Wednesday, July 8, 2026 |
| Time of Incident | Approximately 2:40 AM | Approximately 3:10 AM |
| Primary Crime Scene | Residential Property, Puyallup, WA | Residential Property, Tacoma, WA |
| Nature of Passing | Fatal Gunshot Injury | Fatal Gunshot Injury |
| Identified Gunman | Hayes Miles McCloud (Aged 24, of Eatonville, WA) | Hayes Miles McCloud (Nephew to the victim) |
| Suspect Resolution | Intercepted and killed in armed shootout with police (Seaside, OR) | Intercepted and killed in armed shootout with police (Seaside, OR) |
Timeline of the Senseless Pierce County Attacks
The crisis began in the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 8, when deputies with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department responded to a home in Puyallup, Washington at roughly 2:40 a.m. Inside, they discovered the body of 35-year-old Keitwuan White, who had been fatally shot.
Less than thirty minutes later, while investigators were still preserving the Puyallup crime scene, a secondary emergency call broadcasted another shooting inside the city limits of nearby Tacoma. Responding officers located James Trujillo, who had also been shot to death. Detectives quickly established that the perpetrator was 24-year-old Hayes Miles McCloud of Eatonville, who was identified as Trujillo’s nephew.
Following the double homicide, McCloud fled the state of Washington in a Toyota 4Runner SUV, traveling south into Oregon. Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank immediately issued an urgent interstate “Bolo” (Be On the Lookout) alert to neighboring state authorities, warning that the suspect was armed, dangerous, and fleeing down the coast.
The Oregon Shootout and Interception
By Wednesday afternoon, Oregon State Police tracked the suspect vehicle’s trajectory to Clatsop County. At approximately 6:20 p.m., Seaside police officers discovered McCloud inside his SUV on Sunset Boulevard near Greenway Drive.
As officers from the Seaside, Gearhart, and Cannon Beach police departments converged to execute a high-risk felony stop, McCloud immediately opened fire from his vehicle. Law enforcement units returned heavy fire. McCloud attempted to drive away from the ambush but succumbed to his injuries a short distance away inside the vehicle near The Cove. No officers were injured in the gunfight, and Sheriff Swank later posted that he was grateful the threat was neutralized before more innocent lives could be taken.
Remembering the Victims
Behind the chaotic, multi-jurisdictional police response are two heartbroken families trying to process a morning of unimaginable devastation over what loved ones described as entirely “petty” disputes that the victims had nothing to do with.
Keitwuan White: “Full of Life and Welcoming”
Keitwuan White had recently relocated to Texas, where he was successfully building a new chapter of his life. He had temporarily returned to Washington for a short stay when his life was abruptly cut short. Loved ones described him as an anchor of joy for the family.
His cousin, Dartania Davis, shared an raw, emotional tribute following the news:
“I’m just so mad and sad, bro. This mf took my cousin from us, man… Keitwuan White, I just talked to you a few days ago, cuz. Damn, man, you were full of life, man. You were doing good in Texas. I wish you could have gotten back on that flight sooner. I miss you, cuz. We had a lot of great times together and so many laughs as a family.”
His aunt added that Keitwuan possessed a rare capability to change the energy of any environment:
“He was the kind of person who made people feel seen, loved, and welcomed. His smile, his heart, and the way he cared for others touched so many lives. Our hearts are shattered, and the pain feels impossible to put into words.”
James Trujillo: A Community Guarded by Love
The family of James Trujillo is left dealing with the horrifying reality that he was targeted by his own nephew. James is remembered by neighbors and close companions as a protective, deeply loved individual whose sudden absence leaves immediate shoes that cannot be easily filled.
Family friend Roseanna Johnson reached out publicly to support those James left behind:
“R.I.P James Trujillo, we’re gonna miss you. Me and Buddy will stick by your family the best we can and try to help put you away in a good way. Rest easy James, love always.”
Other close connections took comfort in knowing that James would be reunited in heaven with past loved ones, including his relatives Rome, Mikey, Tea, and Jimmy. Memorial funds and formal coordination for family vigils are currently underway in Tacoma to assist both grieving factions with unexpected funeral expenses.