Kent man fatally shot inside vehicle on East Hill

Kent Police arrested an 18-year-old Kent man for allegedly fatally shooting a 34-year-old Kent man early Sunday morning, April 4 in a vehicle in the parking lot at the Alderbrook Apartments, 412 Novak Lane.

This is the fifth homicide in Kent so far in 2021 and third in the last 14 days. Three victims were shot inside their vehicle. Kent had eight homicides in 2020, four in 2019 and seven in 2018.

Officers responded at about 2 a.m. to multiple reports of a shooting, according to Kent Police. Responding officers discovered a chaotic scene with dozens of bystanders and witnesses in the parking lot.

Officers quickly located the gunshot victim and attempted life-saving efforts, but the man died at the scene.

Initial information indicates that a confrontation had occurred between the victim and the suspect and at some point, the suspect fired several rounds at the victim while he sat in his vehicle, according to police. The suspect then fled the scene prior to officers arriving.

Prior to 8:30 a.m., detectives and officers were able to locate the suspected shooter and took him into custody without incident.

Detectives are working to complete the investigation but want to assure the community that this incident was not random and the man arrested has been booked into jail on suspicion of murder, according to police.

2021 homicides

• Jan. 7

Jovan A. Satterwhite, 41, was found dead with a gunshot wound to his left temple inside a 1986 Buick Regal in the 23500 block of 88th Avenue South. Marcus Bradley Williams was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting Satterwhite over a road-rage incident.

• Jan. 24

Nyaruot Chuol, 20, died from stab wounds during an attack at the Midtown 64 Apartments, 24615 64th Ave. S. Ahmed Osman was charged with first-degree murder for killing the woman he had dated.

• March 21

Avery Wilcox, 27, found shot inside his car in a parking lot in the 20400 block of SE Kent Kangley Road. Police said they have a suspect but no arrest has been made.

• March 30

Marcus Golden, 28, shot in the head in the 23800 block of 110th Avenue Southeast near the Mosaic Hills Apartments on the East Hill. Victim and suspect reportedly knew each other. No arrest has been made.

• April 4

Man, 34, shot in his vehicle in the Alderbrook Apartments, 412 Novak Lane. Victim and suspect in confrontation. Suspect arrested.