Olympia man who suffered a head injury has died. Now, it’s a homicide, police say
A 36-year-old man who was found with a serious head injury on Olympia’s east side on Feb. 19 died in King County on Feb. 23.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as Matthew R. Lawrence. He reportedly died from “blunt force injury of the head” and his manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Olympia police found Lawrence unconscious in a wooded area near the 3200 block of Martin Way East, Lt. Paul Lower told The Olympian last week.
First responders transported Lawrence to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia but he was later moved to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in “life-threatening condition,” Lower said.
Three passersby initially found Lawrence and helped move him to the street side so first responders could help him, Lower said. The group also directed officers to the scene where they found Lawrence, he added.
On Thursday, Lower confirmed detectives were investigating this incident as a homicide. He said he was unable to identify or describe any suspects yet.
“Detectives are following leads even today and hoping to identify and arrest a suspect in this case,” Lower said.
Lower said anybody with information about the incident can contact the Olympia Police Department at 360-753-8300.
