SOURCE: NBC-K5
SEATTLE – A suspect has been arrested in connection with a double shooting at a Seattle restaurant that left the owner dead and another person wounded Wednesday in the Central District.
The Associated Press is reporting that 23-year-old Rey Alberto Davis-Bell, who was a suspect in the shooting, was arrested.
The car he was last seen in, a black, 2002 Lincoln Continental, was previously found by police and impounded.
Police had believed Bell was heavily armed and dangerous, so much so they brought in off-duty officers to help track him down.
Officers responded to reports of the shooting at roughly 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at Philadelphia Cheese Steak restaurant, located at 23rd Avenue and East Union Street.
The owner of the eatery, 32-year-old Dejene Berecha, was killed. The other victim, who has been upgraded from critical to serious condition at Harborview Medical Center, might have been a customer.
“I’m still trying to grasp it. We just had someone else pass away. It just doesn’t feel real. It’s surreal,” said friend Kulla Jatani.
Police believe the incident may be related to a domestic-violence related shooting that occurred at 10:45 a.m. in the area of 5900 Delridge Ave. S.W. in West Seattle. Police say shots were fired in that incident, but no one was hit.
“If this suspect has been involved in two separate shootings in one day, we’re concerned about the level of violence we’re seeing and we’d like to prevent any additional shootings,” said Deanna Nolette, police spokesperson.
Streets were closed near the Philadelphia Cheese Steak restaurant Wednesday and dozens of police were at the scene, including members of the police gang unit.
A blogger from Centraldistrictnews.com interviewed a witness, who said the shooting took place inside the restaurant. He described the events this way: “A gentleman walked inside the Philadelphia Cheese Steak and opened fire and shot two people.”
The witness said after shots were fired, the suspect exited the restaurant and left in a dark sedan.
“I saw him come outside,” the witness said. “Two people definitely were shot.”
Dejene Berecha was an Ethopian immigrant and a newlywed. Friends say he worked hard not only for himself, but to provide good jobs for his employees.
“He was an extremely hard worker, a good guy and a good friend,” said Edward West.
Berecha moved here from Ethiopia several years ago and had just started an exciting new chapter of his life. He started working at the restaurant as a dishwasher and would later go on to own it. He’d just been married a year ago and his wife was planning to join him from Ethiopia. Berecha also planning on moving his restaurant to a new location down the street this weekend.
“Justice has to be served. This innocent man died at the hand of this useless individual,” said Berecha’s friend, Endale Bogale.
A previous owner of the same restaurant was killed back in 2003. Troy Hackett was found shot to death in his car on July 30, 2003. The restaurant was then known as “Philly’s Best Steaks and Hoagies.” His murder remains unsolved.