35th Tacoma Homicide of 2022: Nicholas Ulugalu
It was around 2:00am on October 1, 2022 on Tacoma’s Tideflats. Nicholas Ulugalu sat in Chevy Impala. His friend drove. Nicholas was on the phone with his ex-girlfriend who he said was ‘very high’ and ‘fading in and out.’ They picked up a couple of homeless individuals from a nearby encampment because they knew what trailer his ex-girlfriend was staying in.
When he arrived at the trailer on Cleveland Way between the Puyallup River and railroad tracks, Nicholas got out of the vehicle with a handgun and started banging on the door calling his ex-girlfriend’s name. The ex-girlfriend had told the owner of the trailer that she was afraid of Nicholas. The owner refused to open the door. At some point, Nicholas fired a shot into the ground.
Moments later two men in a white truck arrived on the scene. One of them, a 49-year-old man, approached Nicholas and asked him to hand over the gun. Nicholas did as instructed. According to witnesses, the man then cursed at Nicholas and shot him nine times.
When police arrived on the scene they performed CPR until paramedics could arrive and transport him to a local hospital where he later died.
This was the second homicide on Tacoma’s Tideflats in sixteen days and the 35th Tacoma homicide of 2022. The man allegedly responsible for his death was arrested four days later and charged with his murder.
This entire situation was one that could have been resolved without guns or killing if cooler heads had prevailed. Unfortunately, other choices were made and those choices had deadly consequences.
Nicholas was a big believer in God and someone who cared about his family more than anything. He had a big heart and a bigger laugh. It’s one of many things his family and friends will always miss about him.
The comment section is reserved for those of you who knew Nicholas and want to share any thoughts or memories of him.
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