Teen Sought in Fatal Seattle Seahawks Bar Shooting
After every major sporting event, it seems that a few fans take things too far and celebrations turn violent. That was no different this Sunday when the Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers and hours later a man was killed in a bar shooting.
Several Seahawks players and other celebrities gathered at the Munchbar in Bellevue, Washington, to celebrate Seattle's win.
During the celebrations, police believe that 19-year-old Ja'mari Jones got into an altercation with an unidentified man and fatally shot him, reports CNN.
No players were involved in the shooting and none were wounded. At the time, the players were reportedly in a private VIP lounge. As the shooting happened, the players hit the floor and the other 600 patrons in the venue were sent scrambling, reports CNN.
Besides the man who was killed, another patron was wounded. Their connection to Jones is still not clear. Police are actively searching for Jones and he is described as "armed and dangerous."
Despite being a teenager, Jones is no stranger to the law. In 2008, he was convicted of first-degree manslaughter of a popular local musician known as the "Tuba Man," reports CNN. As he was still a juvenile at the time, Jones was sentenced to less than a year in juvenile detention.
Meantime, many may be wondering how someone convicted of killing another could have been locked up for less than a year, allowing that person to kill another just a short time later.
In general, criminal suspects who are under 18 may be charged as minors and avoid criminal penalties that adults face. Prosecutors will typically weigh several factors in deciding whether to charge a minor as an adult or juvenile including the severity of the crime, the chances of recidivism, and the criminal history of the youth.
For whatever reason, Jones was charged as a juvenile after his first killing. If convicted of this second killing, he will not have the protection of his age to avoid the most serious penalties.
Related Resources:
- Suspect in Munchbar shooting a 19-year-old with familiar rap sheet (MyNorthwest.com)
- 8 Shot in OKC After Lakers-Thunder Playoff Game (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
- Teen Drug 'Czar' Gets 6 Mos. for $3M Pot Ring (FindLaw's Blotter)