A fatal shooting at a Washington bar that led to three people being injured and two dead was due to an argument over one person's hairline, according to documents.
The fight broke out at Tacoma's The Alleycat Patio and Lounge when a man identified as 'L.C' tried to insert himself into conversations with a group of women he didn't know.
The suspect, Alante Peterson, intervened and allegedly told the man: 'You can just leave the girls alone.'
A cell phone video shown to the police apparently shows several people arguing over someone's hairline. Soon after, people in the bar heard a gun slide back and the shooting began.
Peterson, who goes by the street name 'Dangerous,' began turning in a circle while firing the gun and started randomly shooting at people, according to witnesses quoted in court documents.
He has been charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated murder, two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of assault for the three injured in the shooting.
The suspect, Alante Peterson has been charged with aggravated murder and first-degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing two people
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The fight broke out at Tacoma's The Alleycat Patio and Lounge when a man identified as 'L.C' tried to insert himself into conversations with a group of women he didn't know
One of the gunshot victims died at the scene and the other later died at the hospital. Three others were taken to local hospitals with serious injuries.
The dead victims have been identified as Monic Lashaye Swan and James Reha. The Tacoma Police Department has not released the names of the injured victims.
One of the kitchen managers told KOMO News: 'Pretty much when it first happened, everybody dropped to the floor and then there were people running out here.'
On the same day of the shooting, Peterson turned himself in at police headquarters with his lawyer present.
He was seen with his head bowed and pleaded not guilty in court yesterday afternoon. The courtroom was packed with loved ones of both the shooting victims, holding up photos and crying.
Andreas Bonapart, one of Monic Lashaye Swan's uncles said: 'Somebody argued, somebody she knew and she tried to stop it and I guess he just pulled out a gun and just started shooting
One of James Reha's sisters, Suzanne said: 'He was innocently trying to stop an altercation and his life got taken. We'll miss him a lot'
Judge Barbara McInvaille told the session: 'I do find there is probable cause to support the charges that have been brought.'
Andreas Bonapart, one of Swan's uncles, told KIRO7: 'Somebody argued, somebody she knew and she tried to stop it and I guess he just pulled out a gun and just started shooting.
'You could hear the guns and then like I said, I was talking to her brother on the phone and he works at Kaiser down the street and he heard it.'
'She’s brave. She didn’t know it was going to happen,that’s just who she was. She wanted to protect everyone.'
One of the kitchen managers said: 'Pretty much when it first happened, everybody dropped to the floor and then there were people running out here'
The fight escalated after Peterson, intervened and allegedly told the man: 'You can just leave the girls alone. Cell phone videos show several people fighting over someone's hairline
Locals also held a memorial for the victims outside of the bar. Multiple photographs, lit candles and heartfelt letters were placed in remembrance
One of Reha's sisters, Suzanne also told the channel: 'He was innocently trying to stop an altercation and his life got taken. We'll miss him a lot.
'I just can’t believe there’s a picture laid out now of him and he shouldn’t be here. He should be at home right now.'
'He was a family guy. He was a protector. He didn’t have kids of his own but he treated all of his nieces and nephews as his own.'
Locals also held a memorial for the victims outside of the bar. Multiple photographs, lit candles and heartfelt letters were placed in remembrance.
Peterson's bail is set at $4 million and his next court date is unknown.
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