A Pierce County judge has ordered Larie Edward Moorer to serve 34 years in prison for the shooting death of Leslie Crossley, a killing prosecutors say was sparked by the theft of drugs from Moorer while he was locked up. Moorer pleaded guilty earlier this year to reduced charges and now faces decades behind bars under the court’s sentence.
Judge Shelly Moss handed down the 34-year term, which includes a five-year firearm sentencing enhancement, after Moorer admitted to second-degree murder and second-degree assault, according to The News Tribune. Prosecutors had initially charged him with first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, but the state later amended the case as part of plea negotiations and accepted the reduced counts.
How Police Say The Motel Lot Shooting Unfolded
On January 22, Lakewood officers responded to reports of gunfire and found Crossley slumped in the front seat of an SUV with a fatal gunshot wound, officials said. Another woman had driven the SUV to a nearby Holiday Inn Express parking lot, then called 911. A toddler was also in the vehicle and narrowly avoided being struck, according to FOX 13 Seattle.
Prosecutors Say Theft, Pills And A Deadly Motive
Prosecutors trace the violence back to a theft at Moorer’s Parkland home while he was jailed. A stolen backpack allegedly contained an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 blue fentanyl pills, roughly 500 Xanax tablets and about a quarter-pound of cocaine. Court documents reviewed by The News Tribune state that Moorer went to Crossley’s address and opened fire, discharging about 13 rounds at the vehicle and grazing one passenger. The outlet also reports that Moorer has 11 prior felony convictions and had been released on a 25,000 dollar bond just days before the shooting.
Arrest, Charges And What Happens Next
Lakewood’s Special Response Team executed a search warrant at a Parkland residence and arrested Moorer on February 20, 2024; booking information at the time listed murder and assault charges, according to a Lakewood Police release posted by The Suburban Times. With the plea and sentence now entered, court clerks will finish processing the judgment in Pierce County Superior Court and handle required notifications to Crossley’s family.
