Dante Robinson, 28, was found shot to death on March 31, 2020, in the 1800 block of South 15th Street.
Officers responded around 11 that night and spoke to Robinson’s girlfriend, who said they both recently returned to the apartment from a nearby store. She realized they forgot something and went back to the store. When she returned about 15 minutes later, Robinson was found unresponsive.
No one has been arrested, and police say they don’t have any suspects.
A news conference was held at Tacoma Police Department headquarters on Monday.
Detective Julie Dier said surveillance footage from Robinson’s apartment complex showed a subject dressed in dark clothing walking around prior to the shooting. The subject was seen running away from the building after the shooting.
Police are looking for the public’s help. They hope anyone who did not come forward in 2020 with information is able to do so now since time has passed. Dier said they did a canvas that night and spoke to neighbors but no information was given that would help.
Several of Robinson’s family members were at the news conference. His mother, Rena Joens-Charrette, and stepfather, Craig Charrette, flew in from Florida. Robinson’s father, Michael, and brother, Angelo Edwards, flew in from Virginia. Each family member held a photo of Robinson as they spoke.
“We want to reach out to anyone that’s out there, if you know something, please let us know. We’ve been suffering for three years and we just need some answers,” Michael said.
Edwards said he and his brother would talk almost every day. They would either talk over the phone or when playing video games. Edwards said he called himself Batman and Robinson was Superman. Edwards said Robinson was called Superman because when he was a child he would always try to play with the older children.
“He was so young hanging out, playing with big boys and he never went crying home to mom, no matter how much he got banged up,” he said. “Anytime he got banged up, still won’t get me in trouble.”
On March 31, Robinson told Edwards that he was going to the store. That was the last time Edwards heard from him. He learned Robinson had been killed when their mother called to tell him the news.
Robinson had two children, a 9-year-old and 4-year-old. Edwards said Robinson was dedicated to everything including his children. Robinson served in the military and did two tours in Afghanistan. He was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
“What is hard for me as a father, I could accept losing my son in a war, because that’s what he sacrificed for, but just to come back home in a country he was fighting for to protect, to come back home and be murdered senseless,” Michael said.
Michael said his son was a victim to “senseless” gun violence and he believes laws need to be passed to prevent this from happening to more parents.
Dier said they believe there was somebody who saw the suspect leaving the apartment complex after the shooting.
“We just want this person to come to us and tell us what it is that you saw that time,” she said. “So if you were there, and you saw the individual that was leaving this area, please come speak with us and let us know what it is that you saw that night.”
Anyone with information can reach out to the Tacoma Police Department at 1-800-222-TIPS or Crime Stoppers.
___
(c) 2023 The News Tribune
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
