Case file: Dispute over cigarette sparked fatal White Ctr. shooting
SEATTLE - A man suspected of shooting a 23-year-old woman to death in White Center has been charged with second-degree murder. Court documents say the shooting followed an argument over a cigarette.
The suspect, identified in court documents as Anthony H. White, 25, was arrested without incident at his home in the White Center area between 4:30 and 5 p.m. Wednesday.
He was booked into King County jail for investigation of murder, and remains in custody with bail set at $1 million. If convicted as charged, White faces a possible sentence of 16 to 24 1/2 years in prison.
The victim, identified in court documents as Sweetheart Failautusi, was shot to death at 1 a.m. Tuesday near Southwest Roxbury Street and 15th Avenue Southwest.
According to court documents released Friday, White and two other men approached Failautusi and three of her friends at a bus stop in the vicinity at about 12:20 a.m. Tuesday.
One of the men asked Failautusi and her friends for a cigarette, but they refused. White then began bad-mouthing Failautusi, and Failautusi told him not to talk to her and her friends like that, court papers say.
White then grabbed Failautusi, and she swung back, and a brawl ensued. One of the people in Failautusi's group punched White in the face several times, injuring his face, and a gun fell from White's waistband.
There was a scramble for the gun, and one of White's friends grabbed it. The three men then left, but White told Failautusi's group: "I'll be right back; it's not over."
King County sheriff's deputies showed up at the scene shortly after the fight, but Failautusi and her friends told the deputies that everything was OK, and the deputies left.
About 30 minutes later, White and his two friends returned, and one of the friends approached Failautusi to shake her hand.
When Failautusi shook his hand, White started charging and yelling at her. He then pulled out his gun and shouted, "I told you I was coming back for you," according to court records.
As Failautusi and her friends backed away, White fired two shots. He then aimed the gun toward Failautusi and fired again, hitting her, court records say. White and his friends then fled the scene.
Deputies returned to the scene when they heard the gunshots, and an investigation followed. A K-9 police dog was brought in, but it lost the suspects' scent.
An autopsy determined that the bullet struck Failautusi in the back of the head, killing her instantly.
The three suspects, shown in still images captured from a surveillance camera at a nearby business, were described as black men in their early to mid-20s.
Tips from local residents eventually led to White's arrest.
He is scheduled to appear at the King County Courthouse for an arraignment on Sept. 1.
The two other men with White during the shooting remain at large, and deputies continue to hunt for them, said Deputy Travis DeFries of the King County Sheriff's Office.
Anyone with information can contact the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311 or 911.
The suspect, identified in court documents as Anthony H. White, 25, was arrested without incident at his home in the White Center area between 4:30 and 5 p.m. Wednesday.
He was booked into King County jail for investigation of murder, and remains in custody with bail set at $1 million. If convicted as charged, White faces a possible sentence of 16 to 24 1/2 years in prison.
The victim, identified in court documents as Sweetheart Failautusi, was shot to death at 1 a.m. Tuesday near Southwest Roxbury Street and 15th Avenue Southwest.
According to court documents released Friday, White and two other men approached Failautusi and three of her friends at a bus stop in the vicinity at about 12:20 a.m. Tuesday.
One of the men asked Failautusi and her friends for a cigarette, but they refused. White then began bad-mouthing Failautusi, and Failautusi told him not to talk to her and her friends like that, court papers say.
White then grabbed Failautusi, and she swung back, and a brawl ensued. One of the people in Failautusi's group punched White in the face several times, injuring his face, and a gun fell from White's waistband.
There was a scramble for the gun, and one of White's friends grabbed it. The three men then left, but White told Failautusi's group: "I'll be right back; it's not over."
King County sheriff's deputies showed up at the scene shortly after the fight, but Failautusi and her friends told the deputies that everything was OK, and the deputies left.
About 30 minutes later, White and his two friends returned, and one of the friends approached Failautusi to shake her hand.
When Failautusi shook his hand, White started charging and yelling at her. He then pulled out his gun and shouted, "I told you I was coming back for you," according to court records.
As Failautusi and her friends backed away, White fired two shots. He then aimed the gun toward Failautusi and fired again, hitting her, court records say. White and his friends then fled the scene.
Deputies returned to the scene when they heard the gunshots, and an investigation followed. A K-9 police dog was brought in, but it lost the suspects' scent.
An autopsy determined that the bullet struck Failautusi in the back of the head, killing her instantly.
The three suspects, shown in still images captured from a surveillance camera at a nearby business, were described as black men in their early to mid-20s.
Tips from local residents eventually led to White's arrest.
He is scheduled to appear at the King County Courthouse for an arraignment on Sept. 1.
The two other men with White during the shooting remain at large, and deputies continue to hunt for them, said Deputy Travis DeFries of the King County Sheriff's Office.
Anyone with information can contact the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311 or 911.
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