Trial date continued for five in Kent car show shooting

The trial date for five men accused of assault for their roles in a Kent car show shooting in July 2011 has been continued to Oct. 28 in King County Superior Court.

Twelve people were injured in the gang-related shooting at the La Plaza strip mall, 23311 Pacific Highway S.

Four of the defendants are each charged with three counts of first-degree assault with firearm enhancements, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. A fifth defendant is charged with one count of first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement and drive-by shooting.

The trial had been scheduled to start Feb. 25. The defendants are from SeaTac, Seattle, Federal Way and Auburn. They each pleaded not guilty in October 2011.

About 250 people attended the lowrider car show on July 6, 2011. Another person was injured later that night in a retaliatory shooting at a Kent East Hill apartment. Of the 13 victims, seven were gang members, according to Kent Police. None of the injuries were life threatening.

The car show turned violent after members of a rap band at the event encouraged the crowd to show their gang signs, according to Kent Police. Members started to show their signs and that led to verbal arguments, fights and then the shootings.

A Tacoma man received a one-year jail sentence last year for his role in the shooting. A jury convicted him of one count of first-degree rendering criminal assistance for hiding one of the vehicles that carried shooters away from the strip mall.

 

Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

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