SEATTLE -- A father of six who tried to stop a man with a gun died on Monday just hours after prosecutors filed charges against the man accused of shooting him.

Ben Laumea died at 7:23 p.m., according to officials at Harborview Medical Center.

Laumea put his life on the line when a gunman burst into the MVP Sports Bar in Burien around 1 a.m. Sunday with a rifle. The gunman began firing in the crowded bar, riddling the ceiling with bullet holes as bar patrons ran for cover.

When the gunman reached the front of room, he got into a scuffle with Laumea, who used to work as a bouncer at the bar. That's when Laumea was shot in the head. Laumea crumpled behind the bar and the shooter ran off.

Laumea's brother and sister, who were at the bar with him, witnessed the shooting, charging documents state. His brother held him until paramedics arrived.

On Monday police arrested Bruce Sivao Matagi, 27, after reviewing surveillance tapes and interviewing several witnesses.

King County prosecutors charged Matagi with attempted first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. With Laumea's death, Matagi's charge could be upgraded to homicide, Sgt. John Urquhart said.

No one else was injured in the shooting.

A search of Matagi's past criminal record turned up several felony drug charges. Prosecutors said Monday they would ask that bail be set at $3 million. His arraignment is scheduled for May 15.

Laumeu's family and friends say they called him "Big Ben."

"Big guy, big teddy bear," said family friend Tikeri Liousamoa.

Liousamoa says she talked to Laumea just hours before the shooting.

"It's kind of hard to see someone that day and then in five minutes, you lose them, or something bad happens to them," she said, wiping away tears.

Laumea worked for years at the bar in the 12800 block of Ambaum Boulevard. He wasn't working Saturday, but jumped in to help when the gunman began firing recklessly.

Liousamoa said the shooting may have been savage payback.

"From what they said he was targeting Ben," she said.

But deputies have not said Laumea was specifically targeted.

Laumea was in such bad shape Sunday morning that deputies initially reported him dead. But he was in fact alive and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.

Doctors later told deputies the bullet had entered Laumea's head and exited at the back of his skull.

Laumea remained at Harborview until he died.