A 33-year-old man was charged this week with second-degree murder and first-degree assault following a fatal shooting at a house party in SeaTac on Jan. 25, 2025, King County prosecutors said.
Jay Johnson is accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old Eucharise John Tavita, also known as Endurance Brown, and injuring Kammy Ra, 26, during a fight at a residence in the 3700 block of South 170th Street.
Charging documents reveal that the altercation began after Johnson initiated a physical confrontation with Brown. Witnesses said the dispute escalated when Johnson allegedly pulled a gun and fired multiple rounds, striking Brown in the chest and Ra in the leg.
“This was an incredible escalation of force,” prosecutors wrote in court filings, describing Johnson as the aggressor who quickly resorted to deadly violence.
The shooting occurred in front of numerous witnesses, including family and friends at the party. Several attendees disarmed Johnson and handed his firearm—a Taurus 9mm pistol—to police upon their arrival.
According to the King County Medical Examiner, Brown sustained two fatal gunshot wounds, one of which punctured his lung and liver. Ra was treated at Harborview Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.
Prosecutors are requesting a $2 million bail, citing the defendant’s alleged propensity for violence. Johnson has no prior criminal record, but prosecutors argue his actions reflect a pattern of “willingness to start fights with little provocation, and then quickly use his firearm against his opponent.”
The case is being handled by the King County Major Crimes Unit.
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