May 7, 2023
King County: At approximately 8:40pm on December 29, 2019, Washington State Patrol (WSP) received a 911 call reporting a one car collision SB SR 509 near Cloverdale.
Once troopers arrived it was evident that the driver of the vehicle had been shot in the face and CPR was initiated. The driver was transported to Harborview Medical Center and sadly died from his injuries earlier today.
The information that WSP detectives have at this point is that the victim vehicle was traveling SB SR 509 near Cloverdale when an individual in an unknown vehicle fired and struck the driver causing the vehicle to strike the barrier that divides the north and southbound lanes. The passenger in the vehicle was unable to provide a description of the vehicle that the shots came from.
The driver of the victim vehicle was James Richardson and unfortunately passed away from his injuries.
Detectives were able to recover items of that were placed into evidence and are being analyzed at the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab.
Detectives are also working closely with our local and federal partners to further this investigation to bring the suspect in this horrible crime to justice.
On September 9, 2021 a Superior Court Judge found probable cause to charge three suspects with Murder in the 1st Degree.
On May 5, 2023, Emilio R. Paypay, 23 years old from Tacoma was found guilty of Murder in the 1st degree.
Ali J. Sharif, 21 years old from Seattle pled guilty last month to Manslaughter 1st degree.
Aden M Mohamed, 28 years old from Seattle is currently in custody in Turkey awaiting extradition back to the United States to face the Murder charge.
Sentencing is at a later date in King County Superior Court.
Washington State Patrol detectives work tirelessly solve this case to bring those responsible to justice.
###