Emerald Queen Casino Death Ruled An Accident By Local Authorities
On December 20, 2025, Evagelia “Evan” Potifara fell to his death at Emerald Queen Casino in Washington, a property owned by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. Potifara, 37, fell through a glass partition near the escalators and landed several stories below. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m.
At the time, Potifara’s sister, Risepa Lutu, thought the tragic incident was a joke.
“He just fell—like tripped or something. I thought it was a joke,” Lutu told KING 5 News. “But when I heard him crying, I said, ‘Okay, this is no joke.’”
Potifara later succumbed to his injuries, according to the Tacoma Fire Department. Since the tragic incident occurred on tribal land, tribal police were in charge of the investigation.
Local authorities ruled the death an accident.
The tragedy occurred at the Emerald Queen in Tacoma, which opened in June 2020. The $400 million casino features 2,100 slot machines, 60 live dealer table games, a 155-room hotel, six restaurants, and a 250-seat center bar.
Family Launches GoFundMe to Support Funeral Costs
To ensure Evan can receive a proper burial, the family set up a GoFundMe campaign.
In just a short time, the fundraising effort has already raised half of its $15,000 goal, reflecting the outpouring of support from friends, family, and the local community who want to honor his memory.
Vigil Rescheduled to Accommodate Seattle Seahawks Game
Potifara was a lifelong Seattle Seahawks fan and the family moved his vigil to allow people to pay their respects without interfering with the game.
“We know he wouldn’t want his people to miss it,” Lutu said.
Originally scheduled for Sunday, the vigil was held on Saturday at Aki Kurose Middle School in South Seattle, Washington, where Potifara had attended years earlier.
At the ceremony, it was easy to see how many lives Potifara had touched.
Glowing candles lit up the room, as more than 100 friends and family gathered to honor Potifara and celebrate his life.
“Whenever you needed help, he never hesitated,” said Iokapeta Lutu, Evan’s twin sister. “He would give you the shirt off his back.”
The vigil brought together people from all walks of life with attendees from the community all united by their connection to Evan.
Friends, family, and community members left the vigil with heavy hearts but a shared sense of gratitude for having known him. Though his life was tragically cut short, those gathered were living reminders of his generosity, kindness, and unwavering loyalty.
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