Victim in Bellevue nightclub shooting was a 'beacon of positivity'

BY Brandi Kruse  on December 26, 2012 @ 3:38 pm (Updated: 5:37 am - 12/27/12 )

DeShawn-DMill-Milliken.jpg
A felony arrest warrant was issued late Monday for 19-year-old Ja'mari Alexander-Alan Jones, who is suspected of shooting and killing 30-year-old DeShawn Milliken (pictured) at Munchbar in Bellevue on Monday. (Image courtesy Bellevue Police) | Zoom
The victim in a Christmas Eve shooting at a Bellevue nightclub has been identified as 30-year-old DeShawn "D.Mill" Milliken of Seattle.

According to the King County Medical Examiner's Office, Milliken died of multiple gunshot wounds.

At approximately 1:10 a.m. Monday, police officers responded to reports of shots fired inside Munchbar, which is located at 505 Bellevue Way. More than 600 people were inside the club, which is connected to Bellevue Square, an upscale shopping center 10 miles east of Seattle.

Milliken was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man was rushed to Overlake Medical Center, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the hand, a hospital spokesperson said.

In a blog post the day of the murder, a friend of Milliken's posted this message:

You were Loved by many and it's hurtful that someone took your life on Christmas Eve. I pray for Everlasting Healing to your family Today, Tomorrow and Future Holidays to come when you will be missed. I pray for strength for everyone who loved you to know that You made a Big Impact while you were on Earth as If you were in Heaven and not to feel a deep loss. You came and did exactly what you were meant to do. I am happy that our lives crossed paths my younger Brother. I will hold on to your kind words whenever we talked and know that you truly had a Kind heart.

A post on the online fundraising site YouCaring.com referred to Milliken as a "father, brother, son, uncle, grandson, friend, provider, protector and role model to many."

A beacon of positivity, Deshawn touched many lives. For instance, he adopted a daughter, fed the less fortunate, and took care of numerous at-risk youths in the central district area that lacked father figures. He was the type of person that would you give you his car while he rode the bus. He was extremely caring, loving, protecting, and always willing to lend a helping hand.

A felony arrest warrant was issued late Monday for the suspected shooter, 19-year-old Ja'mari Alexander-Alan Jones, who remains at large.

He could be driving a white Nissan Maxima with Washington license plate #AHZ1672. Police consider him armed and dangerous.

Jones was one of three teens who police say was responsible for the beating death of the "Tuba Man," a beloved Seattle street musician. Ed McMichael, known for playing his tuba outside Seattle sporting events, was beaten and robbed at a bus stop near Seattle Center in October 2008. He died as a result of his injuries.

While a motive for the shooting has not been released, Bellevue Police spokeswoman Carla Iafrate said there were several physical altercations in the bar prior to the murder. She said police respond to fights at Munchbar every weekend and officers frequently patrol the area.

A spokesperson for the Washington State Liquor Control Board said Wednesday that they will look into possible enforcement actions against Munchbar after the Bellevue Police Department conducts their investigation.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Bellevue PD tip line at 425-452-2564 or email pdtipline@bellevuewa.gov. If you have information on the whereabouts of Jones, you are asked to call 911 immediately. The public should not attempt to contact him.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (64)


  • Add A Comment

  • dori monson fan wrote...
    my main concern
    December 26, 2012 9:55 pm
    is that say wa allowed a thug with three assult charges on his rap sheet to adopt a little girl? is that really a good idea? Denise revels robinson needs to be fired.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jstumbo wrote...
    dont forget the money laundering charge..
    December 27, 2012 5:35 am
    Which usually means involvement in drugs. The morning show is making him out to be a saint.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    YEP just look at his back ground.
    December 27, 2012 6:00 am
    Is this just like you are saying ???? unemployeement is going down ???? YEP same lie.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    I'm Confused And I Mean REALLY Confused.........
    December 27, 2012 6:19 am
    So who is this "poor victim"? Is he just a guy out trying to have a good time when he isn't out helping little old ladies across the street, planting begonias at the senior center and helping the homeless and the less fortunate.........

    Or is he a thug with a continuing major league assault record who won't be missed by people who like to go about their lives not living in fear?

    @Brandi Kruse......it's okay to update your story. I would rather you do an update about this guy as the "facts" about him are uncovered, rather than stick with the above......makes him sound like he was related to Mother Teresa.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BikeNazi wrote...
    'Beacon of positivity' is all relative
    December 27, 2012 6:50 am
    He could just have always have an emphatic "YES" when offered more chicken and purple drank.

    And to Shark75, don't forget about Bellevue's white gang, the Bellevue Police Department.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    You don't need to be a bigot to see the problem
    December 27, 2012 6:52 am
    in the african american community. You just need eyes. Race has nothing to do with it. It's a cultural thing. And why some of them talk like they just walked off of some Alabama plantation when their families have lived in Seattle for generations is still an oddity.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BigBlackGuy wrote...
    LOL.
    December 27, 2012 9:58 am
    It's amazing how Satan Disciples who's never been within 50 miles of a "Black Community" know so much about what's going on. But when you ask a disciple whats the root causes of the affects that take place in Black Communities. They always say I heard it on Fox News.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Big Black Guy
    December 27, 2012 11:35 am
    You are a TOOL and a BLATANT BIGOT. You prove your ignorance with each post. Can anyone imagine what would have happened if "D' Mill" would have been shot buy a Caucasian or a " White Mexican"???Black on Black Murder is an epidemic, yet the liberals ignore this fact. They want to blame White legal gun owners or the NRA? DISGRACEFUL CHICKENSHITS!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BigBlackGuy wrote...
    What!
    December 27, 2012 2:18 pm
    Can anyone imagine what would have happened if "D' Mill" would have been shot buy a Caucasian or a " White Mexican"??? Yes, they would be considered mentally ill, and put into a mental institution (country club) with the same guy who shot former President Reagan over 30 years ago.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve/?File_id=10993387-5d4d-4680-a872-ac8ca4359119
    December 27, 2012 6:30 pm
    Assault weapons bill
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • williamohoh wrote...
    a positive force?
    December 27, 2012 7:10 am
    Is the bar that low in the black community?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • LyfeStiles wrote...
    williamdoh
    December 27, 2012 10:40 am
    This young man took on the taunting task of adopting a child in need. He helped feed the hungry and was known as a role model in his community to at-risk youths. Have you done any of these things? If so, then I congratulate you. If not, then I don't think you are one to judge where the bar should be set.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jstumbo wrote...
    No, but...
    December 27, 2012 1:21 pm
    I have also not been convicted of assault, money laundering, and gun violence. Not sure what kind of role model he made for at risk youth. I guess he could show them how to not get caught?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BigBlackGuy wrote...
    It's called.
    December 27, 2012 2:14 pm
    Changing your life around. You clowns are pathetic.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jstumbo wrote...
    So he changed his life around...
    December 27, 2012 2:44 pm
    Since his most recent conviction last year? So thugging around for the last 10+ years, and now he turned his life around, just in time to be killed. If that is indeed the case, truly a shame.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • myopinion wrote...
    I HAVE CAN'T
    December 27, 2012 10:46 am
    BELIEVE THIS RACIST CRAP. WHAT MAKES THIS SHARK LOSER THINK THAT ONLY BLAK PEOPLE AND MEXICANS ARE THUGS. AND WHO ARE YOU TO DETERMIINE WHO GOES WHERE. WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING IT IS STILL A FREE COUNTRY. YOU AND YOUR ILK ARE LOSERS AND SHOULD BE BANISHED TO AN ISLAND IN ALASKA TO LIVE OUT YOUR DEPRAVIED LIFES ALONE IN YOUR ALL WHITE WORLD. GO BACK UNDER YOUR ROCK LOSER....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    My opinion
    December 27, 2012 11:37 am
    Please provide us with something to prove otherwise?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • otherpointofview wrote...
    not racial
    December 27, 2012 12:28 pm
    this isn't a racial thing.. people kill people everyday..white black asian whatever.. people need to start respecting one another.. you can say all that you want..black people are thugs etc etc.. white people are just as evil.. notice the word "people".. it's a people issue
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BigBlackGuy wrote...
    Nice!
    December 27, 2012 2:36 pm
    A voice of reason is like removing the KKK sheets on this site.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    myopinion
    December 27, 2012 12:10 pm
    What are you saying?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NRFully83 wrote...
    Lock him up!
    December 27, 2012 11:34 am
    Lock him up and throw away the key! This is ridiculous with all these shootings. Especially since the shooter killed Tuba Man. He needs to go to prison for life. Our legal system is getting so weak that criminals are running the streets and people are getting murdered too much!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BigBlackGuy wrote...
    Indeed!
    December 27, 2012 2:16 pm
    I agree. The killer shouldn't have been let go in the first place.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    is mr. sullivan reporting on the same guy here?
    December 27, 2012 12:24 pm
    because the one I am reading about on the internet was a violent drug dealing thug. he had AT LEAST 3 strikes on him and should have been behind bars instead of at the bars. he had two charges of assult as a juvenile, was caught on video beating people in the mardigras riot in 2001 for his third violent charge. then just a few months ago was convicted in phoenix, az on a felony count of money laundering and a felony count of misconduct involving weapons. if this guy is what you call the Velcro of your community you should move.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    I like...
    December 27, 2012 2:57 pm
    black people.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }