Who is Bryanna Bernandez? 23-year-old charged with first degree murder in Newcastle shooting

On October 30, a tragic incident occurred on Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Way, resulting in the death of a 26-year-old man, Tyair M. Stump, due to a gunshot wound. King County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots in the vicinity of Southeast Newcastle Way and Coal Creek Parkway Southeast in Newcastle. Stump was discovered lying on the ground outside the Newcastle Library with a gunshot wound to his chest.

Who is Bryanna Bernandez?

A 23-year-old woman, Bryanna Bernandez, has been arrested for Stump’s shooting death. Law enforcement found probable cause that Bernandez committed murder with premeditated intent. During her first appearance hearing on October 31, a King County Superior Court judge found probable cause for murder in the first degree.

According to court documents, Bernandez identified herself to the police, standing approximately 30 feet from the scene, and claimed that she shot her boyfriend in self-defense after he had assaulted her. Investigators located two firearms—one in Bernandez’s purse and one in her vehicle—along with five fired 9mm casings at the scene.

Surveillance footage of the incident revealed a physical altercation inside Bernandez’s vehicle before the shooting. During interviews, Bernandez stated that Stump had assaulted her, leading her to retrieve her personal handgun from the trunk and fire at him. She left the scene but returned shortly after the shooting, observing the police’s arrival.

The surveillance footage depicted Stump exiting the vehicle after the confrontation, with Bernandez aiming her firearm at him and firing two shots. Stump fell to the ground, attempted to stand and run, and was shot three more times by Bernandez. Afterward, Bernandez left the scene, returned, and approached Stump.

Significantly, Bernandez did not attempt to call 911 during the 20 minutes between the shooting and the arrival of law enforcement. King County prosecutors requested that the court hold Bernandez at her first appearance hearing, with a second court date scheduled for November 1, serving as the deadline for prosecutors to file charges.