'Tuba Man' killer suspected in fatal shooting at Bellevue bar
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BELLEVUE, Wash. - A 30-year-old Seattle man was killed and another man wounded in a shooting at a crowded bar in Bellevue early Monday, and a 19-year-old man is sought as the suspected gunman.
Police have issued an arrest warrant for Ja’mari Alexander-Jones , who is believed to be driving a white Nissan Maxima with Washington license plate AHZ1672. Bellevue police describe Jones as 5 feet 8 inches tall weighing 140 pounds and say Jones should be considered armed and dangerous.
Jones is one of three teens who beat to death Ed McMichael -- better known as "Tuba Man" in October of 2008.
Jones was sentenced to less than a year in juvenile detention on a first-degree manslaughter charge in that case.
The shooting broke out just after 1 a.m. at Munchbar at Bellevue Square, said Carla Iafrate, a spokeswoman for the Bellevue Police Department.
Police officers were outside the bar when gunfire erupted because a large crowd had gathered there, she said.
More than 600 people were inside the venue at the time of the shooting to watch the Seattle Seahawks victory over the San Francisco 49ers and celebrate afterward.
"It was crazy, I just heard some shots and I just got down," said witness Dejuan Lofton. "It was just wild."
Investigators say the gunfire started after several fights broke out.
"There were several incidents and altercations that were going on inside the Munch bar that possibly led up to the shooting," Iafrate said.
Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said several players were at Munchbar following the team's victory, but none were injured.
"From what we know our guys were in a separate area and nobody was involved at all," Carroll said during a Monday news conference. "It was an awful thing that happened." .
Cornelius Bomet says he saw some of the Seahawks players taking cover nearby.
"You have professional football players, they're all in their little cubby. They're on the floor," he said.
Other celebrities were on hand as well. Reality TV star Aubrey O'Day tweeted a photo from the crime scene and part of her Tweet read: "Everyone was on the floor. People got shot."
Plenty of people were terrified.
"It's a whirlwind," Lofton said. "I'm still shaking to my knees."
Some witnesses thought the shooting may have started as an argument over a woman, but Bellevue police are still looking into the motive. A police source tells KOMO News they are investigating possible connections between this and a shooting at the Seattle nightclub Citrus earlier this year.
The wounded victim was in stable condition at Harborview Medical Center receiving treatment for a gun shot wound to his hand.
Meanwhile, police say there were several varying descriptions of the shooter, so they will rely on surveillance video for clues.
Police have issued an arrest warrant for Ja’mari Alexander-Jones , who is believed to be driving a white Nissan Maxima with Washington license plate AHZ1672. Bellevue police describe Jones as 5 feet 8 inches tall weighing 140 pounds and say Jones should be considered armed and dangerous.
Jones is one of three teens who beat to death Ed McMichael -- better known as "Tuba Man" in October of 2008.
Jones was sentenced to less than a year in juvenile detention on a first-degree manslaughter charge in that case.
The shooting broke out just after 1 a.m. at Munchbar at Bellevue Square, said Carla Iafrate, a spokeswoman for the Bellevue Police Department.
Police officers were outside the bar when gunfire erupted because a large crowd had gathered there, she said.
More than 600 people were inside the venue at the time of the shooting to watch the Seattle Seahawks victory over the San Francisco 49ers and celebrate afterward.
"It was crazy, I just heard some shots and I just got down," said witness Dejuan Lofton. "It was just wild."
Investigators say the gunfire started after several fights broke out.
"There were several incidents and altercations that were going on inside the Munch bar that possibly led up to the shooting," Iafrate said.
 Ja'mari Alexander-Jones |
"From what we know our guys were in a separate area and nobody was involved at all," Carroll said during a Monday news conference. "It was an awful thing that happened." .
Cornelius Bomet says he saw some of the Seahawks players taking cover nearby.
"You have professional football players, they're all in their little cubby. They're on the floor," he said.
Other celebrities were on hand as well. Reality TV star Aubrey O'Day tweeted a photo from the crime scene and part of her Tweet read: "Everyone was on the floor. People got shot."
Plenty of people were terrified.
"It's a whirlwind," Lofton said. "I'm still shaking to my knees."
Some witnesses thought the shooting may have started as an argument over a woman, but Bellevue police are still looking into the motive. A police source tells KOMO News they are investigating possible connections between this and a shooting at the Seattle nightclub Citrus earlier this year.
The wounded victim was in stable condition at Harborview Medical Center receiving treatment for a gun shot wound to his hand.
Meanwhile, police say there were several varying descriptions of the shooter, so they will rely on surveillance video for clues.
Well he is in custody. Komo must be sleeping in today. Maybe he will get 2 years this time? (2nd murder and all)
You cannot rehabilitate this piece of trash. Put him down like a rabid animal.
Someone is helping this killer hide from police. Prosecute anyone and everyone who helps this guy.
When are we going to get the guns off the streets!?Â
 @KH Thumbs down.
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What's NEEDED is... to get the filthy barbarians off the streets....
 @KH if we locked up pieces of trash like this guy the guns wouldn't have anyone to pull the trigger.
 @KH Maybe the day stupid people stop breeding. Yeah right!
So another repeat violent offender commits another rmurder. When are people going to wise up and throw away the key.Â
What a punk
Shut down Mirror nightclub. It was only a matter of time before this happened. They let underage people in (not their first liquor violation). Security is stupid for not patting people down, wanding them on a night light that. I wonder how many lawsuits will come out of this! How would Bellevue Square allow this place to stay in business!
@seaatle Why should the Mirror nightclub be shut down in regards to this event at the Munch bar?  How does one get wanded on a night light?Â
 @push papers Because they're stupid greedy f***s that's why! Allowing 600 people in the bar really? I hope they get sued into poverty.The promoter of All Star Sundays also promotes Citrus in Lake Union. Gee where have I heard that name before? Oh yeah another SHOOTING!!Hood music draws the wrong crowd period! It's not being racist it's a fact. Do you see anyone getting shot at a house music night?  These fools just never learn. See:Tabella,Mr.Lucky,Republiq,Citrus!! smh
@Bill Blackwood @push papers I was asking why there was a call for the Mirror nightclub to be shut down when this went down at the Munchbar. Since I received only a rant in reply, I looked it up.... apparently they are the same establishment, or at least share an address. Not being a frequenter of nightclubs in Bellevue, or anywhere for that matter, and since the name Mirror was never published in any of the news accounts, I was unaware. Now I know. I still am wondering how one gets wanded on a night light.
Why bother even trying to find him? The court system will just "punish" him for a short amount of time and then let him back out on the street to do repeat the same messed up crap over and over again!
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How about this time, if they catch him (which they most likely will) they should take him out back and shoot him dead. The end.
 @Darling Darla  Amen Darla, one bullet danger to the public eliminated. :)
Okay Okay okay...let me get this straight!!! A young man kicks another man till he dies, and get less than a year?????????? What are you all a bunch of As@!#&(*)_+ssssssss holes??????????????
Who does this??? How on earth do you people fricken sleep at night?????????
There was a man in Tacoma some years back where a group of kids beat and kicked a man to death for his pot. 99% of these idiots were tried as adults and are still in prison. Yet this kid does the very same thing and the changed?????????? He get's less than a year then commits a murder a year later??? Well Seattle Police and Judicial System IDIOTS; when you all find this murder you let out of jail 25 years before his time, make sure you treat him to BASKIN ROBINS for a treat!!!
@reelin21  the police have absolutely no say in how much time a person gets or does not get. That is up to the Prosecutor and the Judges and the sentencing guidelines.   So, the police don't deserve to be called idiots in this situation.
More Black on Black crime. When will this end? I know let's ban all guns from African Americans.(tong in cheek)
 @Telman@ The worst part of your comment is as racist ,and not to mention un-constitutional, it would be it would stop more gun violence than the proposed"assault weapon" ban.
When will this state start taking murder seriously regardless of the age of the offender. Kill someone, get a slap on the wrist. Kid did a year in juvi, it was like getting a badge of honor. I doubt any sane person is suprised he killed again. Time to execute murderers on the first offense.
@Nitroxman I couldn't agree with you more. Why'd he get a break because he was a minor? Doesn't make him less of a monster and doesn't make him less likely to reoffend (obviously)
I have no words other than what's sickeningly obvious. The justice system, my fellow Americans.
Its funny how everybody is worried about the football players. They are normal people like everybody else that was in that club .....
Kill it before it can kill again.
 @joefuss Before it can reproduce...
And people wonder what we can do to reduce gun violence?! Â How about putting away, or getting rid of people like this the FIRST time they kill someone?!?!?!
Another career criminal allowed on the street after a pathetic so called punishment. He will be out in a couple of yrs if he is captured this time. The plea bargain will be young hood need a drink.
I remember when "Tuba Man" was killed by this kid...everyone said that he'd become a repeat offender if the book wasn't thrown at him. Guess what--the prophecy came true. Good job, legal system.
 @Donkey Kong Remember also the judge who told these POS he saw something good in them and had faith they would learn wonderful life lessons from getting away with a sick, cruel, brutal murder of a defenseless man.
That piece of crap should be in sentencing court right alongside these scum piles, right after his public disbarment hearing and ceremony.
if this individual indeed murdered this individual, and I suspect it's pretty darn likely he did... prosecute this piece of trash to the severest degree.
a 19 yr old (not allowed by law to carry or own a pistol) was in a pub (not allowed by law to be in a pub) and was a convicted felon (not allowed to own  or possess a gun)  is the lead suspect in this case.. neato.Â
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but we need MORE laws to restrict people who own guns legally  ?Â
 @everyoneelse I imagine that he also broke a concealed carry law.
You're back again?! Here ya go... A slap on the wrist... Now, get out here and shoot at people again, you hear?!Â
NRA suggests that every bar must have an armed bartender on duty from now on...
how the hell do you only get a year for manslaughter?!
 @Devin Regney The excuse was because they were juveniles. Not my excuse by the way, I would never have let any of them out of jail. If I'm remembering correctly, there were 3 of them that got off with a slap on the wrist. At least 2 of them have been back in jail for serious crimes. Disgusting.
Why is this POS still on the Streets??? Come on Washington...GET WITH IT!!
This dude is goin down for the last time. Hope LE shows no mercy this time around. Adios muchacho.
Really , what liberal POS judge let this guy out?
 @mrslappy Stop blaming judges. They have to follow guidelines in sentencing. Blame the prosecutors. What charges the prosecutors file determine the sentence.Â
Start executing every murderer regardless. Soon, WA will be a peaceful place to live.
Yeah, places with dead penalty are peaceful... Too bad all the data tells the exact opposite is true worldwide.
 @Special Force Slap on the wrist.  He'll plea-bargain down to JayWalking4....
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 @Shawn Lee It's important.  It sets the Cultural_Tone...
Don't you think the fact pro football players were on the scene but NOT involved is a big story! But I agree that we could use more focus on the deceased. I'm sure as more is learned and released, we'll hear about the victim and maybe what caused the shooting.
Quote in Seattle Times April 23, 2009 by brother of Tuba Man who came for the trial and thought he heard true remorse from the three killers, "These kids can change. The law gives them that chance." Hopefully, the law will see these three have not changed and will not change. Time to give "chance" to the public; the chance to live safely with three criminals locked up like they should have been years ago.Â
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 "Animal torture by young people is considered by forensic psychiatrists as a indication of adult psychopathic behavior. A harsher punishment for the cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the community." (The petitionsite.com) Maybe if they had killed a pigeon or a dog in downtown Seattle, the jury might have been more outraged to keep the streets safe? You don't begin with murder and work your way down to lesser crimes.Â
...and first of all, how does a 19 year old man get into a bar in the first place? In this day and age, you'd think people would have learned every trick. I am really sickened by the FACT that this young man has proven himself, time and time again, to have little regard for society or human life and now, another man is dead because of the inactions of society to deal sternly w/ the problem in the first place!
@takncarabizniz I'm guessing he didn't have a fake ID, but security just let him in.
They ask for ID and then you get a pat-down. This guy entered being under 21 and armed...
@takncarabizniz It is called Munch Bar but isn't really a bar in the liquor sense. Much like someone under 21 can place an order at a juice bar
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 @NBA_Is_Useless  @takncarabizniz Incorrect. After 10pm, only people 21 and over are allowed in the establishment.
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