Stalked woman shot at 14 times by ex-boyfriend during horrific 911 call – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Lakewood, Washington – Gloria Choi dialed 911 in a moment of sheer terror, her voice breaking as she reported her ex-boyfriend ramming her truck and pulling a gun. Just two days earlier, she and her friends had contacted dispatchers four times within 48 hours, detailing his relentless stalking. Prosecutors later revealed that William “Billy” Rickman fired 14 shots into her vehicle during that final call, striking her multiple times and ending her life on January 2, 2022.[1]
A Relationship That Started with Promise
Gloria Choi, a 33-year-old single mother and hotel manager, met Rickman in May 2021 at a property owned by her parents. He quickly showered her with affection, sending messages that promised a bright future together. She left her family home to live with him and her young son in Tumwater, but cracks soon appeared.[1]
By November, Choi endured physical pushes, verbal abuse fueled by his substance use, and financial strain as he relied on her support. Friends described Rickman as insecure and possessive. She ended the relationship and returned to her parents’ home, filing a police report on November 28 about him taking her truck without permission. A no-contact order followed on December 1, after his brief arrest.[1][2]
Stalking Intensifies with Hidden Trackers and Vandalism
Rickman refused to let go. Choi discovered Apple AirTags he had hidden in her belongings to monitor her movements. He violated the protection order repeatedly, showing up at a coffee shop where she locked herself in the bathroom, pleading outside a mall for reconciliation, and sending harassing emails accusing her of seeing someone else.[1]
The harassment peaked over the New Year’s weekend. On December 30, someone broke into her truck at a sushi restaurant, slashed a tire, and stole laptops belonging to her and a friend. Surveillance footage captured a man matching Rickman’s description prowling the hotel parking lot, puncturing tires on her coworker’s Jeep not once, but twice. Desk clerks chased the suspect, noting his plateless Chevy Colorado with a broken light – details that later linked back to him.[1][3]
Four Urgent Calls Overlooked
In the 48 hours spanning December 30 and 31, 2021, Choi and her associates reached out to Lakewood authorities four times. The first involved her vandalized truck; she identified Rickman and referenced the no-contact order. Two calls came from her friend Jacob Blue about his slashed tires, backed by video evidence. The final one described the fleeing suspect in vivid terms.[1]
Officers responded but deemed the surveillance too unclear for an immediate arrest. No voicemail left for Rickman led to action, and the incidents piled up without escalation. Choi had reported at least 11 prior disturbances across counties, voicing fears that he might kill her. Yet the pattern continued unchecked.[2][4]
- December 30: Choi reports truck break-in and tire slash.
- December 30: Friend reports Jeep vandalism.
- December 31: Second Jeep tire slashing reported.
- December 31: Hotel clerk chases tire slasher.
The Chilling Final 911 Call
On January 2, Rickman tailed Choi from her Holiday Inn shift. He rammed her Ford Ranger off a gravel road in the 6100 block of 112th Street SW, pinning it against a utility pole. As she dialed 911 around 7:25 p.m., her pleas filled the line: “I don’t know where I am, but I’m scared to get out of my car.” “He’s got a gun!” “I think my boyfriend’s following me. He just hit my car.” “He’s got a gun! Please come!”[1][2]
Dispatchers heard pounding, her screams, then eight rapid shots. A minute later, five more rang out – 14 total, with 14 bullet defects in the door and window. Choi, struck at least 10 times, slumped over the wheel. Officers broke a rear window to reach her, performing CPR before she was pronounced dead at a hospital. An eyewitness watched in horror as the scene unfolded.[1]
From Flight to Conviction and a Lawsuit
Rickman fled in his rented Chevy Colorado, captured on motel surveillance wiping it down. Phone records and GPS placed him in California, where Humboldt County deputies arrested him on January 7 after a relative confrontation. Charged with aggravated first-degree murder, he pleaded not guilty but was convicted after a two-week trial in November 2023. The jury deliberated just two hours before sentencing him to life without parole.[1][5]
Choi’s estate filed a lawsuit in 2023 against Lakewood police, alleging they ignored her repeated pleas and failed to enforce the order despite knowing the threat. The city contested the claims. Her best friend Brieanna Eberly later said, “I do blame the police for not taking it seriously.”[4][3]
Choi’s story, recently profiled in a CBS “48 Hours” episode, underscores the dangers of unchecked stalking. Her son’s loss and her parents’ grief linger as a stark reminder that timely intervention can mean the difference between warnings and tragedy.
