Man pleads not guilty to double killing at Kent apartment complex

Published 5:48 pm Monday, August 18, 2025

A 51-year-old Seattle man pleaded not guilty to killing a man and a woman in July at a Kent apartment complex.

Alphonzo Kelly entered a not guilty plea Aug. 14 to two counts of first-degree murder at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, according to court documents. He is scheduled for a routine pretrial hearing Sept. 18. Kelly remains in the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle without bail due to his alleged crimes and previous criminal record.

Kelly is accused of killing Gary Winston, 34, and Migna Elizabeth Kennebrew, 46, each of Kent, on July 14 at the Kentwood Apartments, 10435 SE 224th St., on the East Hill, according to charging documents filed Aug. 1 by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Winston died of multiple gunshot wounds and Kennebrew died of a gunshot wound of the neck, according to a July 17 report by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Prosecutors also charged Kelley with second-degree assault, for an attack with a hammer July 12 against a man at the same Kent apartment complex, and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm due to a previous conviction. With a high offender score of nine, if convicted as charged, Kelly could face a maximum penalty of life in prison, although that will be up to a judge, according to a King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson.

Kent Police officers arrived at about 8:39 p.m. July 14 to the Kentwood Apartments after several 911 calls about the sound of gunshots and a subject lying on the ground.

Witnesses told officers there were two bodies. Officers found Winston lying on the walkway just outside the front door of an apartment with gunshot wounds. Officers went inside the apartment and found Kennebrew lying on the floor of a bedroom with a gunshot wound to the neck. Both died at the scene.

Officers tracked down video surveillance from a nearby residence that showed a man walked up the stairs to the unit, knocked on the door and looked through a window, according to charging papers. The man then reportedly began kicking the door and after four kicks was able to force the door open.

As the door opened, Winston quickly exits and attempts to grab the man and they both fall to the ground, according to charging papers. The sound of four gunshots can then be heard after which the man who kicked the door down stands up. The man then enters the apartment and a female scream is heard followed by the sound of a single gunshot.

A witness told detectives “Slim” used to live at the Phoenix Court Apartments on the East Hill in Kent with himself and Winston before they were all evicted. The witness said “Slim” was upset with Winston, believing he was having sex with his girlfriend, according to charging documents. The witness also described a July 11 attack with a hammer at the Kentwood Apartments by “Slim” against another man he believed was having sex with his girlfriend.

A civilian informant for the Kent Police reportedly saw “Slim” walking away from the apartment July 15 shortly after gunshots were fired.

Detectives knew “Slim” as Alphonzo Kelly from previous contacts. They learned that Kelly often stayed in an unit at the Kentwood Apartments. Camera footage from a nearby unit reportedly showed Kelly leaving the apartment and heading toward the apartment where Winston and Kennebrew were killed. He then returned to the apartment about 15 minutes later before leaving after he changed clothing.

Detectives received a search warrant for the apartment and reportedly discovered clothing Kelly wore that matched what the videos and witnesses had seen the night of the shootings, according to charging papers. That included a black bucket hat, black hoodie and black Jordan sneakers with red accents.

Kent Police arrested Kelly on July 16 on a felony warrant. Detectives asked him about the double homicide, but he denied any involvement.