A Renton man suspected of killing a 23-year-old father during a shootout outside a Federal Way bar was ordered held without bail Thursday.
Kenneth Maurice Sutton, 21, is being investigated for second-degree murder and first-degree assault in the killing of Cloise Young of Kent, King County prosecutors said. He is expected to be charged today.
Young died and six others were wounded Wednesday when Sutton opened fire outside Johnny’s Famous Grill & Bar about 2 a.m., prosecutors said. The bar is at 2318 S.W. 336th St.
Someone, most likely Young, returned fire and might have hit Sutton, who was arrested about 3:30 a.m. at a Renton hospital.
He allegedly told someone, “I should have left the country instead of coming to a hospital. If I get out, I’m gonna run,” prosecutors wrote in a statement of probable cause.
Federal Way police commander Stan McCall said Thursday the shooting remains under investigation. Detectives needed to interview several more witnesses, McCall said.
A motive had not been established, but a heated argument between Young and Sutton preceded the gunfire, prosecutors said. Sutton is a self-proclaimed gang member, McCall said.
He has a history of arrests and convictions, including 2010 convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm and promoting prostitution, court records show. He had pending felony charges at the time of the shooting for felony harassment and assault in the fourth degree-domestic violence, records show.
Young, who was at the bar for a birthday party, was the father of a 2-year-old daughter and was not in a gang, relatives said Wednesday.
Police also were looking Thursday for someone who tried to steal property from Young after the shooting, McCall said.
A man tried to take Young’s ring and watch as bystanders attempted resuscitation, McCall said. The man was unable to take the items and fled before police arrived.
alexis.krell@ thenewstribune.com 253-597-8268 blog.thenewstribune.com/crime adam.lynn@ thenewstribune.com 253-597-8644
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