911 call – A harrowing 911 recording from Washington became central in a murder case tied to alleged domestic stalking and a violation of orders.
A Washington mother’s final minutes were captured in a 911 call that begins with confusion and fear and quickly escalates to terror: “He’s got a gun!”
Misryoum reports that the call. made in January 2022. described a chaotic scene outside a vehicle and an immediate sense of being targeted by a partner.. According to Misryoum. dispatchers and officers arrived within minutes. but the shooting had already begun. ending with the woman pronounced dead shortly afterward.
The audio later became part of the courtroom narrative in the prosecution of Billy Rickman, who was charged in connection with the killing and ultimately convicted. Misryoum says jurors were presented the full call and additional evidence meant to show a pattern of stalking and escalating danger.
Meanwhile. the case has also fueled a broader debate about what police do when domestic violence complaints appear to signal imminent harm.. Misryoum notes that the prosecution argued the timeline showed repeated warning signs. while the defense challenged whether investigators pursued every possible lead.
In this context, the story has become a grim illustration of how quickly an alleged pattern of coercive control can shift into deadly violence. Even when legal safeguards are in place, the human cost of delay and misunderstanding can be irreversible.
Beyond the 911 recording itself, Misryoum describes a series of events in the months leading up to the killing.. Friends and family members said Gloria Choi had become increasingly concerned for her safety. including claims that Rickman monitored her movements and ignored a no-contact order issued in connection with earlier incidents.
Misryoum reports that during that pre-trial period, Choi and people close to her described repeated confrontations and harassment, along with specific fears that he was tracking her. Investigators later tied key leads to surveillance and vehicle activity in the days around the shooting.
The allegations include that Choi had sought help more than once. including by calling 911 during a stretch when her vehicle was allegedly targeted and when she believed Rickman was behind the damage.. In Misryoum’s account. the investigation drew on phone activity. surveillance video. and the defendant’s movements in the aftermath of the attack.
This case matters far beyond one courtroom because it highlights the stakes of domestic violence response systems. from protective orders to how calls are acted on in real time.. For families dealing with similar fear, the difference between monitoring and intervention can determine whether violence escalates or stops.
In the courtroom. Misryoum says the prosecution sought to show that Rickman’s behavior was both persistent and deliberate. using evidence connected to stalking and surveillance to help establish motive and intent.. The conviction brought a life sentence without parole. but Misryoum notes that a separate wrongful death lawsuit involving the city and police department remained unresolved as of 2026.
At the center of both legal efforts is a single, unanswerable question: whether the killing could have been prevented after repeated warnings. Misryoum reports that Choi’s family continues to argue the response fell short, even as the criminal case concluded.