Police capture teen wanted in deadly Bellevue bar shooting
BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue police say a man charged in a fatal Christmas Eve bar shooting has been arrested during a traffic stop in the Tacoma suburb of Lakewood, Wash.
Police spokeswoman Carla Iafrate said Ja'Mari Alexander Jones was arrested Wednesday night after Lakewood officers randomly ran the license plate of a car that turned out to be stolen.
Jones, 19, has been booked into the King County Jail on a second-degree murder charge with bail set at $5 million. A 20-year-old woman arrested with him was booked for investigation of rendering criminal assistance.
Court documents say that Jones fired at least five shots inside the bar, killing 30-year-old Deshawn Millikin, of Seattle. Two other people were wounded in the shooting.
Investigators said Millikin and Jones got into a physical fight just after 1 a.m. inside the bar. Security camera video shows Jones shooting at Millikin and then running from the scene, according to court documents.
More than 600 people were at the bar when the shooting occurred, including several Seahawks players who were celebrating after the team's victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Coach Pete Carroll said the players were in a separate area of the bar and were not involved in the shooting.
Later Thursday, the bar's owners and Kemper Development Company, who operates Bellevue Square, said the bar would not reopen.
In a joint statement released to the media, the two said, "both parties determined this would be best for the community, guests and the families involved."
Jones was one of three teens convicted in the 2008 beating death of a Seattle street musician known as Tuba Man, 53-year-old Ed McMichael.
Jones was sentenced to less than a year in juvenile detention on a first-degree manslaughter charge in that case.
The latest charges against Jones include a firearm sentencing enhancement and carry a sentence range of 20 to 28 years in prison if convicted as charged.
Police spokeswoman Carla Iafrate said Ja'Mari Alexander Jones was arrested Wednesday night after Lakewood officers randomly ran the license plate of a car that turned out to be stolen.
Jones, 19, has been booked into the King County Jail on a second-degree murder charge with bail set at $5 million. A 20-year-old woman arrested with him was booked for investigation of rendering criminal assistance.
Court documents say that Jones fired at least five shots inside the bar, killing 30-year-old Deshawn Millikin, of Seattle. Two other people were wounded in the shooting.
Investigators said Millikin and Jones got into a physical fight just after 1 a.m. inside the bar. Security camera video shows Jones shooting at Millikin and then running from the scene, according to court documents.
More than 600 people were at the bar when the shooting occurred, including several Seahawks players who were celebrating after the team's victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Coach Pete Carroll said the players were in a separate area of the bar and were not involved in the shooting.
Later Thursday, the bar's owners and Kemper Development Company, who operates Bellevue Square, said the bar would not reopen.
In a joint statement released to the media, the two said, "both parties determined this would be best for the community, guests and the families involved."
Jones was one of three teens convicted in the 2008 beating death of a Seattle street musician known as Tuba Man, 53-year-old Ed McMichael.
Jones was sentenced to less than a year in juvenile detention on a first-degree manslaughter charge in that case.
The latest charges against Jones include a firearm sentencing enhancement and carry a sentence range of 20 to 28 years in prison if convicted as charged.
Glad to hear Munchbar is closing down, and not just in spite of what happened. The overwhelming reviews of that place on Yelp and oter sites was very negative. I hate these types of "clubs" that think they are all that, and the staff are rude and the food, drinks and service sucks.Â
Ohh another bad boy behind bars. Don't you crime breaking fools ever read the news? Time to do something else besides being a criminal.Â
Note to self: When hiding/running from the law, donât break another law (such as driving a stolen vehicle).Â
Too bad he didn't resist arrest.
Whatever happened to life in prison? He murdered people in two separate incidents. Our legal system is a joke.
20 years for murdering a man? how does that make any sense?
 @Willow For murdering... TWO... men.
I have an idea. The U.S. needs deep - across the board - cuts immediately.  And let's start with executing hopeless [repeat] criminals first! That way, they can save money on prisons, food stamps, health cares, living assistances, etc. intended for these hopeless criminals, who would kill or hurt the innocent ANYWAY!Â
Â
Since the punishment doesn't fit the crime, let it fit the frequency of the crime at least.
 @Alki_Ninja And, using non-murderous prisoner labor on chain-gangs would also help solve some of our labor issues, also helping to solve money.
"But...but I'm sure that his family and friends would vouch that this poor young man is really indeed a sweet, momma's boy who ended up hanging with the wrong crowd. Â Let's not punish him due to his upbringing for I am sure he truly is that sweet, goofy kid his family would make him out to be. Â I believe our justice system would turn this poor soul around and show that he is this decent young man with his whole life ahead of him..." Â -Â Acquaintance of suspect. Â I really hope he serves no prison time, instead I want his naked body tied to a shooting lost and have our Seattle's "finest" light him up with an array of 5.56 and 00 buckshot until every last magazine is emptied. Â I know this will never happen, most likely he will get a slap on the wrist with 10-15 years MAX living with 3 meals a day, get into physical shape(to commit rapes on weaker inmates), and be released into society again.Â
 @Robert En Jee Wow, graphic. You're more strict than me, I just want to see justice done and watch him hang for his multiple murders, that's all.
This morning when I first read this story I asked a simple question. My question was "If Obama had a son would he look like this?" Now my question and the 2 replies I got are removed. My question now is Why? Did I violate rules for comments? I don't feel my question is anymore off topic, sarcastic or offensive than any other comments I have read tonight.
 @dkgeno Hey!!  We understand he was "turning his life around..."
@Biggg Donnn Oh Ok, that explains it now. Thank you
 @lakeview LOL. And... the original statement wasn't?Â
@dkgeno  Just my opinion, but a statement like that serves no purpose other than to be casually racist.Â
 @dkgeno Thoughtcrime.
20 to 28 years??? Life people! Life! I think life is called for. Keep him off the streets. He gets out in 20 years and I guarantee someone will get killed again by his hand. Life.
@Paulina Sieberath  Yeah it's crazy. He deserves to fry.Â
 @lakeview  @Paulina Hey we agree on something! Truly momentous occasion, we should celebrate with a nice local brew my treat.
 @Paulina Sieberath Or better yet, execution.
Nice that this little piece of ... is off the street and nice that KOMO finally stopped mispelling Tuba Man's name over and over.   Â
If he did it, send him away. Don't pass go. Don't give him a moment's rest busting big rocks into small rocks.
he'll be out and shooting people again in no time...
Toss him off a ferry this month while transferring him to Shelton.
Â
Seriously, it will do WA state a favor and get more support for ferry funding.Â
I would urge that lawmakers make the death penalty mandatory for anyone convicted in the wrongful death of two or more people in any time interval, be it 1st degree, 2nd degree, voluntary or involuntary manslaughter. Any combination. You can kill once and get a light sentence. Twice? You're done.
 @MajorSkeptic That's an interesting proposal.
Just another example as to why children doing adult crime should be charged as such.. not be protected by being a under 18 exempt PUNK... murder is murder wither you meant to or not this was NOT SELF DEFENSE by this little *&^T ... and I hope they fry him for this so we can be done with him for good...
I am very surprised and relieved that he didn't open fire at the officers who initiated the traffic stop.
It is truly sad that in some cultures being hard and tough is part of everyday life. If you listen to rap music it's absolutely mind blowing most of the stuff they rap about. Who cares if someone looks at you in a strange way? or if someone might say something about you behind your back? Who cares what people think about you? For gods sake grow up and make something out of your life and be a role model to your kids. In the long run you will have the last laugh when the ones that were more worried about street credability are 50 years old either dead, in prison or sitting on a park bench in pioneer square drinking a beer out of a paper bag.
 @tkyed Isn't it strange that the people who live in a culture that demands respect, deserves so little of it?  It's as if their parents never taught them how to earn respect from others.. just demand it at the barrel of a gun. Â
 @DT Yessssssssssssss!!!!  DT you know it!  Respect is EARNED, not given and not taken.  It's a concept, unfortunantly lost on many of the younger members of society.
 @K. Coleman Lost to them, along with so much else that makes society civilized.
 @DT A completely fear-based system of primitive pseudo "respect", that is: "If you don't kowtow to me, I will hurt you."
@TheTruncheon @DT Personally I only respect people that have earned it and a lot of these little POS's have not earned it. I am a hard working loving parent who went to college and who has earned everything I have. Unfortunately not all but a large percent of people in this culture think they are owed something and think they can walk around and intimidate and scare people.
Ah, great news...this bar along with the ghetto crowd it's been attracting for the past year just got booted from Bellevue Square.
Â
"Munchbar and Mirror Ultra Lounge Will Not Reopen
Â
Kemper Development Company released a statement today notifying the public that Munchbar and Mirror Ultra Lounge within Bellevue Square will not reopen following the shooting that took place on December 24th. At this time there is not any additional information on what will take the place of Munchbar.
Â
Below is the statement released:
Â
Kemper Development Company and the owners of Munchbar/Mirror Lounge have mutually agreed to not reopen the restaurant and lounge. Both parties determined this would be best for the community, guests and the families involved. Munchbar and Mirror Lounge have been closed since December 24, 2012."
What is wrong with this kid? Â Does he not see that his life is going to hell in a hen basket?? Â He is the only one who can turn it around and start doing some good, but now by the time he gets out of prison, he will be 40 years old and more than likely if he survives prison will be a member of one of the various prison gangs that are in existence. Â This is so sad, he could have done a lot of good with his life, instead he chooses this!
 @karen gilbreath It is not his fault, you know how hard is to be black.. I mean African American in America?
They are owed 'reparations', a living, free phones etc. It's hard!
By the way, this is how liberals think.
 @karen gilbreath If he gets out of prison at 40 years old his sentence was way too short.  IIRC he is facing up to 28 years on the murder charge.  The feds will charge him for unlawful possession of a weapon.  I am hoping he won't see freedom until he is at least 60.
@truthinadverts, sargeMcC: google deshawn milliken seattle mardi gras riot. milliken was caught on video brutally beating people in 2001in a riot. he had two prior assult charges as a juvinille, and recent convictions just a few months ago in arizona for felony money laundering, drug dealing, and weapons violations.
 @dorimonsonfan Yeah, I looked it up. He was charged with a misdemeanor. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it's not savagely beating someone either.
@SargeMcC
A lot of the charges against "rioters" were reduced or simply dropped due to pressure put upon the city officials and prosecutors by The Urban League, among other special interest groups, at the time.
Â
Of course that doesn't bring back Kris Kime, whose murderer actually got his slap on the wrist, I mean, his "sentence" REDUCED from ten years to eight, and was released a couple of years ago, and is now a free man, unlike his DEAD VICTIM.
 @TheTruncheon  @SargeMcC And this is why people have so little respect for our so-called "justice system". You keep putting a *known* violent offender back on the streets and think anyone is going to take you seriously when you talk about "reducing crime"?  I mean, for crying out loud we have people running around as "Superheroes" how is that not an absolutely glaring testament to how bad things are? The justice system is so farked that we have people running around in colorful spandex tights think they can do better? (And frequently do?) /sigh...
 @dorimonsonfan That wasn't really a "riot" ya know...
@dorimonsonfan So what!! This little wannabe POS already beat someone to death and he is only 19.
How did a 19 year old get into a bar at 1:00 a.m.? Last I checked the age limit was 21. And were they legally allowed to have 600 people in there? The one time I went through there it did seem like you could hardly move. This bar definitely seemed to encourage sleeziness from the start and I am glad they will not reopen. The mall is a family place, and my teen children have been agog at what they've seen just walking by at 8:30 p.m. I would suggest to the mall that future establishments in this specific location be more family friendly.
 @MichelleM "my teen children have been agog at what they've seen just walking by at 8:30 p.m."
Â
Are they really "eager and curious"? Maybe you mean "disgustedly stunned".
Â
Twenty-five or so years ago, many of us here in Seattle would also have been "disgustedly stunned" at the number and kind of uncouth boors now shambling around with latent and actual displays of threatening violence, reducing many formerly civilized areas of our once-civilized city to barbarity on a regular basis.
Â
It can happen to Bellevue too.
 @MichelleM People do have fake IDs.
Well I'm glad there's a least one bar with prior violations that will stand up and do the right thing. And as far as the douchbag shooter, I take it we can finally put the punk away for a good long while for once?
 @Zoso Depending on what happens at trial and how good the defense attorney is, Millikin may only have to do 10 yrs and then he'll be out!  I'm a member of the criminal justice community but I truly believe the laws desparately need to be revamped!  We need stronger, more stringent prison time than what is currently being offered and those that are in the prison system need to have viable rehabilitation to be able to survive in the real world and not re-offend!!!
 @karen gilbreath That sounds a lot more comforting coming from a member of criminal justice. Now we just need to find someone out there with power that will actually listen!
 @karen gilbreath While I agree with you regarding rehabilitation services to those incarcerated, I would stress jobs for those released from prison is just as big of a priority.Â
Â
Those released from incarceration face getting turned down repeatedly for jobs they are qualified for because no one wants to hire someone with a "record" - this makes it near impossible for offenders to have a source of income, and they often resort to committing more crime as a way to generate income.
Â
I disagree with "tougher" laws. Our state already has issues with budgeting the little money there is, and tougher laws, equaling more prison time=money we don't have.
 @tkyed I'm afraid you give those who commit their ORIGINAL crime too much credit.  They are doing a 'selfish act', they simply are NOT thinking of the victim/victims or ramifications and out comes of their illegal acts, so awareness of the sentencing guidelines, let alone giving them any consideration WHILE committing a crime is expecting too much.  With this in mind, increasing prison times will have little effect, except to your taxes and Washington's debt.  Oh, if ONLY it were so easy!  Just think of all the peoples lives that would not be impacted.
Â
Â
Â
@commonHuskyfan In my opinion there are a lot of people that are in prison where it is unecessary for them to be there such as the green river killer and probably 1000's of other prisoners that should simply be excuted it would make a lot more room in our prisons. There are certain crimes that are unexcusable such as serial killers and most importantly crimes against children. These people do not deserve a 2nd chance nor do they deserve 3 meals a day. It might sounds harsh but like I stated beofre this is just my opinion.
@tkyed There is a direct connection between recividism and employment. While I understand your position, it makes no sense to me to release individuals from prison into a culture of unforgiveness and where opportunities for employment are rare.
Â
I'm not only talking about the economic sense of having those released paying into our tax system instead of other inappropriate economic gain (theft, dealing, etc), but also the sense of having those with criminal records being busy and not having idle time on their hands, which we know only leads to trouble.
Â
The state cannot afford, either by shrinking revenue or poor fiscal policy, to "lock up and throw away the key." While that may sound appealing, it does not work, in my humble opinion.
@commonHuskyfan @karen gilbreath Listen it we all know that if you decide to live a life of crime that it will be hard for you to get a job when you get out. That is called common sense and it is called taking resposibility for your actions. So I do not feel sorry for someone who is released and having a hard time finding a job. They should have thought about that before they commited the crime. if we did have tougher laws less people would be going to jail because there would be more fear when it comes to committing a crime.Â