Charges: Murder suspect confessed shooting to co-worker at restaurant

The man accused of Tuesday's fatal shooting near downtown Anchorage told several people he killed his co-worker, according to charging documents in the case, though the reason for the argument between the two men remained a mystery Wednesday.

Tommy Rumph Jr., 31, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, plus one count each of misconduct involving weapons and controlled substances in the death of 30-year-old Treavonne Owens. On Tuesday, a judge set bail at $500,000 in his case.

Will Warren, general manager at Glacier BrewHouse restaurant in downtown Anchorage, said Wednesday that Owens and Rumph worked together as cooks there. Both men were "pretty recent hires," he said.

Owens' sister, Nischa Anderson, said her brother had taken the job just weeks earlier.

Rumph was taken into custody about two hours after police were first called around 6:15 a.m. Tuesday to 15th Avenue and E Street, where Owens was found dead in the street. Central Middle and Chugach Optional Elementary schools were closed for the day soon afterward.

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A Facebook Live video was posted to an account in Rumph's name about 15 minutes after reports of the shooting in which a man says he faces "20 to life."

A criminal complaint against Rumph, written by Anchorage Police Department Detective James Trull, said Owens was at the wheel of a Chrysler sedan Tuesday morning, with his cousin and a woman who asked for a ride to Fairview as passengers.

On the way, Owens stopped at Rumph's house near 15th and E and went inside. The friend said she stayed outside with the car.

"She said Treavonne was in the residence for a short period of time before returning to the vehicle," Trull wrote. "She said he was arguing with someone else from inside the residence. She said Treavonne got in the driver's seat and they were about to leave but then he got back out of the vehicle."

Soon afterward, she heard gunshots but didn't see who fired them because she was ducking inside the car.

Owens' cousin said he went inside Rumph's home and saw Owens arguing with Rumph. Owens and his cousin both returned to the car before Owens got out and continued arguing with Rumph; the cousin told investigators he then heard two or three shots and saw Rumph walking away and holding a gun, according to the charges.

"(The cousin) said he got out and grabbed Treavonne to check on him," Trull wrote. "(He) got blood on his hands when he grabbed Treavonne."

Rumph's girlfriend told police she woke up to sounds of the argument inside the apartment, with Rumph telling Owens and his cousin to leave. The girlfriend stayed inside and heard but didn't see the shooting, the charges said.

"While officers were still on scene, (Rumph's girlfriend) made contact with Tommy by cellphone," Trull wrote. "Tommy told (her) he threw his life away, and (she) attempted to convince him to return and turn himself in."

Investigators also received word later Tuesday that Rumph called and texted co-workers about the death of Owens, also known as "Deuce." On his Facebook page, Owens identified himself as "Duce Diz."

"Officers responded and viewed the text message that was said to have come from Rumph," Trull wrote. "This text message stated that 'I killed Deuce.'"

Police arrested Rumph near 29th Avenue and Willow Street just after 8 a.m.; according to Trull, he had a Samsung cellphone and a baggie containing about 8 grams of a substance that tentatively tested positive for cocaine.

Rumph told police he owned a handgun, Trull wrote, "because of the neighborhood he lived in." Rumph also corroborated the other witness accounts of the encounter, saying he and Owens stepped outside during the argument and Owens exited his vehicle one last time, the charges said.

"At that point Rumph stated 'everything' happened," Trull wrote. "He then gestured like he was holding and shooting a gun."

During his arraignment at the Anchorage Correctional Complex Tuesday afternoon, Rumph appeared before District Court Judge Douglas Kossler, who set a bail of $500,000 and requirement of a third-party custodian.

Rumph told Kossler that he wanted a public defender, at least until his family sent him money for a private attorney. He said he'd been out of prison for less than a year and had made about $10,000, but owned no property or vehicles and didn't have a bank account. He questioned the judge about why he wasn't allowed to see his girlfriend, a witness in the case.

During the hearing, Owens' sisters Ninzammael Marshall, Michaela Merrick and Nischa Anderson sat in the front row, holding each other. Anderson said her younger brother was a beloved member of a large Anchorage family that had lived in the city since the 1940s.

Sarah Savage, Owens' aunt, made a statement to the court on behalf of the family Wednesday.

"It's pretty hopeless at home. And I know you probably feel that way too," she said, looking at Rumph.

"I hope this can rattle some people out there, and let them know this is not a comfortable place to be."