By TRACY JOHNSON
P-I REPORTER
Seattle — A man accused of killing the owner of a Central District sandwich shop and wounding a customer was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and three attempted-murder charges.
Rey Alberto Davis-Bell, 23, is accused of shooting to death Degene Berecha Deshasa, 31, an Ethiopian immigrant who owned the restaurant Philadelphia Cheese Steak at 23rd Avenue and East Union Street.
King County prosecutors say Davis-Bell also fired at a customer, seriously injuring him, and a restaurant employee.
Last Wednesday’s shooting left Dashasa’s friends and relatives mourning and questioning why anyone would want to hurt the man.
An owner of the same restaurant was shot to death a few blocks away in 2003; the case remains unsolved.
Police said Davis-Bell, who was also charged with illegally possessing a gun, is a gang member with a prison record. His alleged rampage began earlier that day, when police say he fired at least nine times through the window of his ex-girlfriend’s West Seattle home.
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P-I reporter Tracy Johnson can be reached at 206-467-5942 or [email protected].