Renton man charged in drive-by shooting

A man who has been accused of firing a weapon at his sister’s boyfriend at a Renton intersection was arrested and found carrying two loaded handguns.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) on Sept. 9 charged Malik Marquez Sanchez, 28, of Renton, with second-degree assault and drive-by shooting following an alleged Aug. 28 incident along Lake Washington Boulevard and North Southport Drive. According to charging documents, Sanchez shot at the alleged victim five times after the two were having a verbal dispute with one another from their respective vehicles at an intersection.

KCPAO spokesperson Douglas Wagoner stated that on Sept. 11, Sanchez pleaded not guilty to his charges at his arraignment hearing. A judge originally set Sanchez’s bail at $500,000, the amount requested by prosecutors. However, court documents state that at Sanchez’s arraignment, a request from Sanchez’s defense to reduce bail was granted by a judge, and his bail was subsequently set at $250,000.

According to the King County Adult and Juvenile Detention jail lookup portal, Sanchez remains in jail at the Maleng Regional Justice Center.

“The defendant shot multiple times at the alleged victim, at close range and in the middle of an intersection during daylight hours,” KCPAO prosecutor Jennifer Phillips said in charging documents. “A nearby business was also hit by a bullet and the occupants of that building had to ‘shelter in place.’ Surprisingly, the alleged victim was not struck by any of the bullets, but the shots did hit the driver’s side of his car and disabled his car.”

DETAILS OF THE CASE

According to documents, at 4:07 p.m. Aug. 28, Renton police responded to a shooting reported at Lake Washington Boulevard and North Southport Drive. An officer located the alleged victim, who was standing next to his blue Tesla Model 3, which had what appeared to be several bullet holes in the driver’s side passenger door and the rear driver’s side.

Documents state that the alleged victim was not hurt, but he said that the incident shook him up. After the shooting, his vehicle shut down and would no longer drive.

The alleged victim said that his girlfriend’s brother, Sanchez, shot at his vehicle. The alleged victim said that Sanchez and he had a long history of issues with each other because he is dating Sanchez’s sister, documents state.

According to documents, the alleged victim said that about two months ago, Sanchez punched him in the eye, and he had to go to the emergency room. Additionally, the alleged victim said that Sanchez has shot several people and that police are actively looking for him.

The alleged victim said that the incident began when he was leaving his workplace, and at a roundabout, he saw a white Dodge Caliber and immediately thought that it was Sanchez. The alleged victim said that Sanchez had sent him threatening messages recently.

The alleged victim said that as the Dodge got closer to him, the driver was wearing a ski mask that was covering his forehead, but he was 100% sure that the driver was Sanchez. The alleged victim said that as he and the Dodge stopped at a red light, the two began having a verbal dispute, and then Sanchez pulled out a tan Glock and fired roughly five times at him.

Documents state that Guardian One air support was requested, and a possible suspect vehicle was spotted driving southbound on State Route 167, but officers did not locate Sanchez. Documents state that officers attempted to locate Sanchez at addresses associated with him, but were unsuccessful.

Photos of the alleged victim’s Tesla Model 3 damaged by bullet holes. Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.

A photo of Malik Marquez Sanchez being arrested and the items found in his possession. Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.