Kent man, 22, charged in May 27 Auburn shooting

A Kent man has been charged with a May 27 fatal shooting in Auburn that left 52 spent shell casings at the scene of the crime.

On July 2, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Kyree-Brian Amar Jackson, 22, with first-degree murder for the shooting of 21-year-old Keivon Cash Bias. According to charging documents, Jackson was the alleged driver of the vehicle used during the crime, and he participated in an ambush upon Bias.

At about 12:12 a.m. May 27 in the 11200 block of SE 323rd Street, at least two individuals are seen on camera near the crime scene holding firearms, and then, after running toward the crime scene, multiple gunshots are heard. Documents state that Bias was then found suffering gunshot wounds, and as a result of the wounds, he died a few hours later.

Documents state that Bias’ girlfriend said that before the murder, near the scene of the shooting, they saw a vehicle strangely parked on the road, which investigators believed to be the same one driven by Jackson. According to documents, Bias’ girlfriend said they were concerned about the car because a street gang that Bias was associated with had been involved in some violent interactions within the past two weeks with a rival gang.

According to the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention jail lookup portal, Jackson is being held at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle with bail set at $5 million. King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Casey McNerthney said that Jackson’s next court hearing is an arraignment on July 16, where an initial plea is entered.

“This individual is believed to be a key participant in the homicide, and while this arrest marks a major step forward, additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues,” according to a statement from the Auburn Police Department. “At the time of his arrest, the suspect was on active DOC supervision after being granted an agreement from the court in a previous case involving assault in the second degree, drive-by shooting, and felony eluding.”

Details of the case

At about 12:14 a.m., May 27, Auburn Police Department officers responded to multiple reports from Lea Hill neighborhood residents stating that they could hear gunshots near the 12300 block of SE 323rd Street. Documents state that while driving to the scene, officers were advised that a white Chrysler was seen leaving the area of the shooting.

At 12:16 a.m., officers were advised that Bias’ girlfriend reported that they were at a residence in the 11200 block of SE 323rd Street, and he had suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder. When officers arrived at the scene, they were flagged down at the home, and Bias verbally identified himself.

According to documents, officers began lifesaving aid to Bias, who appeared to have suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his chest. Bias said that subjects in a white Chrysler 300 had shot him.

Bias was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, but at about 2:30 a.m., medical staff informed officers that while in surgery, he was pronounced dead.

At the scene of the shooting, officers located 34 9mm shell casings, two .40 caliber shell casings and 16 7.62 caliber shell casings. According to documents, no shell casings were found near where Bias was shot, so it appeared that the suspects were the only persons who fired.

According to documents, Bias’ girlfriend stated that on the way to the home, they were being followed by a Chrysler that drove slowly past the home when they arrived. An hour later, they had gone to 7-Eleven to buy some items, and on the way back to the home, they noticed a white Chrysler parked diagonally, protruding into the road, about one block north of SE 323rd St.

According to documents, Bias’ girlfriend said that when they pulled into the driveway of the home after returning from 7-Eleven, she began to walk to the home, and then she heard gunshots and Bias rushing inside.

Documents state that officers received video footage from Auburn’s street camera system, which captured a white Chrysler 300 with all-black rims, a non-functioning passenger-side headlamp and damage along the front of the vehicle. The Chrysler was spotted on camera approaching Lea Hill Road at about 12:16 a.m., before it drove around and eventually left Auburn.

Officers were able to locate the license plates on the Chrysler and linked the vehicle to Jackson. Documents state that officers retrieved phone data from Jackson’s cellphone, and GPS data showed his cellphone in the area of the crime scene and moving with the Chrysler the night of the murder.

Additionally, documents state that the Chrysler was found a day later abandoned in Federal Way, and it had an ignition interlock device that the driver must blow into before driving. Minutes after the shooting, the device captured a photo of Jackson driving the Chrysler.

According to charging documents and the prosecutors request for a $5 million bail, Jackson was on active state Department of Corrections supervision when he allegedly committed the killing and has extensive violent history.

Jackson’s criminal history includes second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and drive-by shooting in January 2023; attempt to elude and fourth-degree assault in November 2019.