27th Tacoma Homicide of 2022: Ronnal Hines
In the early morning hours of July 30th, the party at a motel on Hosmer was dying down. Thirty-nine-year-old Ronnal Hines decided he’d leave the party and go for a drive. He asked a young woman if she’d like to join him. She agreed, but talked to another man before leaving with Ronnal. She told Ronnal she knew the location of another party. A little later they pulled into a gas station in the 5400 block of Orchard Street. Witnesses say they were smoking and having a good time. Then a man approached Ronnal’s Mustang and pointed a gun at him, saying “Give me all your sh*t!”
Ronnal pulled his own gun. Both fired. The man ran off after firing at Ronnal. The young woman ran away as well. Ronnal died at the scene becoming Tacoma’s 27th Tacoma homicide of 2022. The young woman, it was later revealed had given the shooter the location of Ronnal and had set Ronnal up for the robbery. She along with the man who shot Ronnal were both later arrested and charged with Ronnal’s murder.
Ronnal also went by Joefeezey and Royal Jovan. He was funny. He’d never miss a chance to tell a joke or cut a fart during a free throw while playing basketball. Ronnal leaves behind two small children who will likely only have photos of the way their father smiled at them. They will grow up without a father because of a senseless, useless, and careless act. Ronnel’s family still has an active GoFundMe set up.
As always, if you knew Ronnel and want to share thoughts or memories, please click the button below and comment or email me at jackcameronis@gmail.com.
- Jack
TacomaStories is free for everyone. Every Monday we post about a Tacoma homicide, focusing on the victim. (The perpetrators get enough exposure from the media.)
Subscribe for free now or if you’re able, please consider supporting the work we do here at TacomaStories by becoming a paid subscriber. Just click the link below to subscribe.