Reginald Gutierrez - Police Office Fatality - Tacoma, Washington

Jake Gutierrez

Police Officer Reginald Gutierrez, age 45, died in the line of duty on November 30, 2016, at a house in Tacoma, Washington.

He was called Jake by his family and friends.

Officer Gutierrez was a member of the Tacoma Police Department. He had 17 years of service.

Jake and other officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at a house in Tacoma. A male subject, Bruce Johnson II, age 38, started shooting and struck Jake. Jake was pulled from the house by other officers. Tragically, he died at the scene. 

A lengthy hostage/standoff situation ensued at the home. The shooter used two young kids as human shields. These kids may have been the shooter's children. He was shot dead by a Pierce County Sheriff's Office SWAT team member.  

Michael, Patron Saint of the
Police, pray for Jake and
for those who have lost him. 

Witnesses said that Jake saved the lives of his Police partner and the wife of the shooter.  When the shooting began, he repeatedly yelled for his partner and the woman to get out of the house. 

A funding site has been set up to help Jake's family with expenses. 

Friends describe Jake as a man with a kind spirit. He was caring, brave and funny. He was helpful to others.

The members of the Tacoma Police Department are in mourning over the death of their brother. Jake was a model officer who was dedicated to his profession. He was well-respected by his comrades. He was one of the good guys. He will be forever remembered.

Jake's loved ones are devastated over his sudden and tragic death. He did his best. He will be forever mourned.

Jake is survived by many loving comrades, friends and family members who will forever miss him.

Thank you for your service to the community, Jake. 

Pray for all who die in the line of duty.

God save us from the psychopaths. They are killing us, Father. Amen.

Pray that Jake is in Heaven. Pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.

Pierce Dunn and Evan Freeman - Good Samaritans in Vancouver, Washington

On March 18, 2016, a woman pulled into the drive-thru window of a Dutch Bros. Coffee outlet in Vancouver, Washington. 

She ordered a coffee but the staff member serving her saw that she was crying.

Pierce Dunn, age 19, asked her what was wrong and she told him that her husband had died the night before. The woman's husband was only 37 years old. 

Pierce gave the distraught woman a free coffee and asked her if he could pray for her. 

Pierce took the woman's hand and two fellow employees joined in. They all held hands as they prayed for the woman. They prayed that God would provide peace and help for the family in their time of mourning. 

A customer next in line, Barbara Danner, took a photo of this act of kindness. 

Coffee Shop employees praying for a stranger in distress

The woman, who had lost her husband, was extremely grateful that strangers cared about her husband and about her loss and her deeply felt grief. 

Evan Freeman, age 21, one of the employees of the coffee shop, said that he is not particularly religious but it was just the right thing to do. 

Unfortunately, as of this posting, we don't have the name of the third Good Samaritan in the photo. 

These young people are what this world desperately needs - those who reach out to help others.  

The ultimate purpose of us all should be the alleviation of human suffering. 

Pray for the man who died at age 37. Pray that he is in Heaven and is with God. 

Pray for this man's widow and his loved ones. Pray that they find peace. 

God bless the three coffee shop employees in this photo. They are Good Samaritans. Amen. 

God bless all who come to the aid of strangers in distress. Amen. 

Brody Zyzniewski - a Good Samaritan in Longview, Washington

Brody Zyzniewski

On November 18, 2015, at about 6:30 p.m., Brody Zyzniewski, age 18, was driving by Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview, Washington. 

He heard a man and woman arguing. The man was yelling at the woman and pushing and pulling at her. 

Brody stopped to see if he could help out somehow. 

The woman was crying and was really upset. The man was ragging on her and treating her abusively. 

Brody told the man to leave the woman alone and to leave the area. 

The aggressive man then pulled out a knife.  Brody told the woman to run away. 

Brody and the man got into a fight and Brody threw a punch.  It was during this confrontation that the man stabbed Brody twice in the arm. 

Both the man and the woman fled the scene.  Brody went to a local hospital and was stitched up. His injuries were not life-threatening. 

The Good Samaritan reaches
out to strangers in distress.

The man was a dark-skinned African American man in his late 20’s, over 6’ tall, with short hair and no facial hair.

If you have any information about this incident, you are urged to call the police tip line at 360-442-5929.

The Police do not recommend that citizens intervene in domestic disputes. They recommend that you call the Police instead. Tempers really flare during arguments between couples and everything can go south in an instant, thereby endangering the life of the person interceding. 

However, Brody Zyzniewski is a Good Samaritan. 

He stepped up to help a woman in distress and was wounded while doing so. 

God bless Brody and all who come to the aid of strangers. Amen. 

Sean Deeds - A Good Samaritan in Seattle, Washington

Sometime in March of 2015, Sean Deeds was driving on a Seattle street with his son. 

Sean Deeds

They were going fishing. 

As Sean was driving on the street he saw a young boy running as fast as he could down the street and heading into busy traffic. 

Sean stopped his car and jumped out.  He managed to grab the boy and pick him up. 

He called the police and when an officer arrived he handed the boy over and left the scene without divulging his name. 

The entire incident was caught on surveillance video and was posted to the Internet.  The Police and boy's mother were interested in finding the Good Samaritan who helped this 4 year old boy. 

A local TV station was able to track down the anonymous man. 

Sean was very humble about his act of kindness and said that anybody would do the same. He said that he was just in the right place at the right time. 

The Good Samaritan comes
to the aid of strangers, selflessly.

However, many people who were driving by would not have noticed this kid because they were self-absorbed and rushing to their destination, and others would not have wanted to "get involved". 

But Sean did get involved and the child's mother and the Police are thankful for his presence of mind. 

Sean eventually met the boy and his grateful mother where he was thanked for his kindness.  

God bless Sean Deeds and his loved ones.  He is a Good Samaritan. 

God bless all who come to the aid of strangers.  Amen. 

Dragan Skrobonja - a victim of a drunk driver in Bellingham, Washington

Dragan Skrobonja

Dragan Skrobonja, age 37, died on May 26, 2014, at a hospital in Bellingham, Washington.

Dragan was in the downtown district in the early morning hours of May 26 when he was struck by a truck.

The driver of the truck had been observed spinning his tires and revving the engine at about 1:30 a.m. Then the truck shot off like a bat out of hell into traffic. The truck driver struck three male pedestrians walking on the sidewalk, and then crashed into a blocked off parking lot striking Dragan.

The truck then hit an SUV full of people that was headed up the street, shoving the SUV into a parked car. No one in the SUV was injured.

Dustin F. Brown, age 27, has been charged with vehicular

Dustin Brown

homicide and vehicular assault. His blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit at the time of the tragedy.

Now he is saying that he had one or one and a half beers. It is also claimed that his vehicle had a mechanical malfunction that caused all of this mayhem.

To All Drivers: If you find that you are drunk or doped up on street drugs or prescription drugs or if you are falling asleep on your feet, do NOT drive. Call a family member or a friend for a ride; or take a taxi; or stay where you are until you sober up; or crawl home on your hands and knees. It will be better for you and for the world if you do.

Regret can last a lifetime.

Dustin Brown moved to Bellingham from Rhode Island in 2013. He had a suspended driver's license from Rhode Island.

Dragan was originally from Bosnia. At age 16 he was drafted into the Bosnian Army and was subjected to the horrific ethnic wars that occurred in the former Yugoslavia.

Father, place Dragan on the stairway to
Heaven

Dragan's family are devastated over his tragic and senseless death. He will be forever mourned.

Family members describe him as charismatic, humorous and charming. He lived life to the fullest.

Friends describe him as a man who was well liked and purposeful. Others called him the nicest guy ever who will be greatly missed.

Dragan is survived by many loving friends and family members.

God save us from the drunk and doped up drivers. They are killing us, Father. 

Pray that Dragan is in heaven. Pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.

Monique Williams - a Victim of Domestic Violence in Pasco, Washington

Monique Williams and Aaron Newport

Monique Williams, age 29, died on May 19, 2014, at her home in Pasco, Washington.

Monique was killed by her former boyfriend, Aaron Newport, age 36. It is believed that Aaron somehow crawled into her home through a "dog door".

There was evidence of a struggle in the master bedroom of the home and both the bodies of Monique and Aaron were found laying side by side in her bed.

Aaron shot Monique in the head and then shot himself. Monique had injuries consistent with defensive wounds.

The couple had recently broken up and Aaron Newport was not happy.

Monique Williams had worked for the past seven years as a nurse at the Kadlec

Saint Bernadette of Lourdes,
who said "I am ground like a grain
of wheat", pray for all who are
ground down by domestic
abuse.  Pray for Monique.

Regional Medical Center in Richland, Washington. Her co-workers stated that she could fill any role. She was a well respected and intelligent nurse. 

Family members describe Monique as a beautiful person. She was interested in studying to become a veterinarian. She will be forever mourned.

Aaron Newport worked in construction with a Kennewick company, and spent his free time racing Jet Skis, late-model cars, motorcycles and dirt bikes.

Aaron Newport had a prior history of violence and odd behavior in connection with women. In 2008, he had climbed the balcony of a third floor apartment in Pasco, to get to his former wife. She was in the apartment with another man. Aaron Newport attacked them both. Two months later, he attacked her again and was locked up for more than two months in Benton County. He also was locked up in Franklin County in connection with this incident.

He had once told friends that he would kill himself because a woman had ruined his life.

Supporters of Aaron Newport call him an awesome man. Why? He was awesome if you think awesome is climbing up the outside of a building like Spiderman to get to a woman to give her a beating or crawling through a dog door to get to a woman to frighten her, beat her or kill her.

There is nothing awesome about domestic abuse and domestic murder. 

Monique's family are devastated over her tragic and senseless death. She will be forever mourned.

Monique is survived by many loving friends and family members.

God save us from the freaks who said they love us and then kill us.

Pray that Monique is in heaven. Pray that she is at peace and is with God. Amen.

Albert Nejmeh - Firefighter - Tacoma, Washington

Firefighter Albert A. Nejmeh, age 59, died in the line of duty on May 14, 2013, in Tacoma, Washington.

Albert was a member of the Tacoma Fire Department. He was a member of the Technical Rescue Team. He had 12 years of service.

Albert was responding to an emergency medical incident. He apparently suffered a heart attack at the scene. His comrades provided life support and rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he died around noon.

Fire Department officials stated that he will be missed. Albert was well loved and well regarded by his colleagues. When he was hired at age 47, he was the oldest person ever to be hired by the Tacoma Fire Department.

Family members describe Al as an environmentalist, musician, world traveler, athlete, mountain climber and seaman. Al had his maritime Captain's license and had a long history with sloops and schooners.

Friends describe him as never having a bad word to say about anyone, generous and

Saint Florian, Patron
Saint of Firefighters,
pray for Al

interesting.

Albert lived on Marrowstone Island in a house he designed and built himself. He was not married and had no children.

Al is survived by many loving friends and relatives including his sister, Gail Robinson; and his brothers, Greg and Brian Nejmeh.

Thank you for serving, Al. 

Pray for all who die in the line of duty. Amen.

Let us pray that Albert is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.

Tyliah Young - murdered in Tacoma, Washington

Tyliah Young, age 22, died on January 13, 2013, in a back alley in Tacoma, Washington. 

She died of multiple gunshot wounds. She was also found frozen. 

She told her father last week she planned to tie up some loose ends and move her two daughters back home to Manhattan, New York. She had failed to appear in court to take care of a misdemeanor warrant.

Mary, pray for Tyliah

Friends describe Tyliah as easygoing, with mischief in her eyes and a contagious laugh. 

Family members describe her as a good, loving, sweet young woman. She was outgoing, jovial. She laughed a lot and brushed things off where other people would have been upset.

Tyliah Young hoped to be a nurse someday.

Tyliah is survived by many loving friends and relatives including her 2 daughters, ages 5 and 7. 

God save us from the Lost Ones who stalk the Earth stealing away life.  Amen. 

Let us pray that Tyliah Young is in heaven. Let us pray that she is at peace and is with God. Amen.