Prosecutors filed four counts of attempted murder and first-degree arson after a pre-dawn attack that left one victim in critical condition.
TACOMA, Wash. — Pierce County prosecutors have charged 29-year-old Andrew Cole Keen after police say he stabbed multiple housemates and set fires inside a sober living residence before dawn on Jan. 20. He was booked shortly after officers and firefighters reached the 4000 block of South 34th Street.
The case moved to charging this week as detectives finished initial interviews and collected physical evidence from the two-story home. Prosecutors filed four counts of second-degree attempted murder and one count of first-degree arson. Court documents describe residents fleeing as flames erupted in the living room and hallway and note one man ran outside while on fire. Three victims remain hospitalized; one sustained life-threatening burns and stab wounds. A fourth resident was treated at the scene. Keen appeared in court and entered a not-guilty plea while a judge reviewed bail and release conditions.
Investigators say 911 calls started around 4:43 a.m., reporting both a stabbing and a house fire. Firefighters encountered active flames and heavy smoke while police began a block search. Officers detained a man matching witness descriptions a short distance away. According to charging papers, he had a cut to his hand and traces of blood on his clothing. Detectives later collected a folding knife and materials consistent with starting fires. Officer Shelbie Boyd said the first minutes were “pretty chaotic,” with residents self-evacuating from upper levels and crews splitting between fire attack and medical triage.
The home operates as a recovery residence, sometimes called a clean-and-sober house, where unrelated adults share bedrooms and common space. Officials have not released the names of the injured or the number of occupants assigned to the address. Investigators are reviewing interior alarms, door hardware and escape routes to determine how smoke and heat moved through the building. Damage totals were not available. Prosecutors said a motive remains under investigation. They noted statements from witnesses who described a sudden burst of flames and a struggle in the minutes before the first sirens.
Tacoma has a network of group and recovery homes scattered across residential neighborhoods. Fire officials said they routinely check for working smoke alarms and clear egress but do not conduct the same annual inspections required for larger facilities. In recent years, the city and county have debated oversight and registration for shared housing as demand for recovery beds grew. While violent crime has trended unevenly across Pierce County, officials say interior arson cases tied to assaults remain relatively rare compared with accidental home fires during winter months.
With charges filed, the case moves to arraignment and discovery. Prosecutors indicated they will seek to keep Keen in custody pending trial, citing the severity of injuries and risk to community safety. A case scheduling conference is expected in the coming weeks, followed by a probable-cause hearing if necessary. Detectives continue to gather surveillance video, phone records and forensic results from the burned rooms. The Red Cross has assisted displaced residents. Officials said additional public updates will come with each court hearing or major investigative development.
On South 34th Street, boarded windows and a charred sill remain visible from the sidewalk. Neighbors said they awoke to shouting, sirens and a glow in the dark. “It went from quiet to chaos in minutes,” said Maria Lopez, who lives across the street. Another neighbor, David Chen, said firefighters ushered several shaken residents to an ambulance bay. “They were coughing and covered in soot,” he said. By midmorning, investigators had strung up tape while crews checked for hot spots.
As of Friday, one victim remained in critical condition and two were listed as serious but stable, according to officials. Keen is due back in court for a scheduling hearing next week. Investigators said they are still seeking additional witnesses who were inside or near the home around 4:30–5 a.m. on Jan. 20.
Author note: Last updated January 23, 2026.