A 26-year-old British man shot dead in the US is being remembered by relatives as a “loving family man” as police launched a murder investigation.
Jamie Thomas Stephen Lomas was killed after a ‘domestic disturbance’ at a house near Lake Youngs, a reservoir near the city of Kent in Washington State.
According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, Mr. Lomas died of “multiple gunshot wounds” after the incident last Saturday just after noon.
His family said he was “tragically murdered in America,” leaving them “completely heartbroken and struggling to come to terms with such a devastating sudden loss.”
Mr Lomas, who was from Manchester, was also described as ‘much loved by all who knew him’ and a man who ‘had so much life ahead of him’.
Relatives have launched a GoFundMe page to help repatriate Mr Lomas’ body to Britain “so we can lay him to rest and give him the send-off he deserves”.
They said the ‘cost of bringing Jamie home from America is more than our family can manage alone’ and are therefore asking for help with this and funeral costs.
The family members added: “Jamie was so loved, and he will be missed every day. There are no words to describe the pain our family is feeling right now.”
Jamie Thomas Stephen Lomas was killed after a ‘domestic disturbance’ in Washington state
Mr Lomas died of multiple gunshot wounds after the incident last Saturday around noon
Police said the shooting happened at a home on the 23000 block of 156 Ave SE near Kent
The fundraising page stated that all funds will be transferred to Mr Lomas’ aunt, Sharon Day – with £7,200 raised from 191 donations to date, towards a target of £10,000.
Mr. Lomas’ death was ruled a homicide, but no arrests have been made and the case remains an active investigation, the King County Sheriff’s Office said.
A British Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in the US and are in contact with local authorities.’
A spokesperson for the King County Sheriff’s Office said, “On August 22 at approximately 12:20 p.m., King County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a domestic disturbance that had occurred at a residence located in the 23000 block of 156 Ave SE.
“Deputies arrived and secured the scene. There have been no arrests at this time and this remains an active investigation by our major crimes detectives.”
