Tuba_Man.jpg
Ed McMichael or 'Tuba Man' at a game. (AP Photo)

Teen brags about murder; Tuba Man's brother reacts

BY Stephanie Klein  on January 19, 2011 @ 6:33 am (Updated: 1:30 pm - 3/28/11 )

By STEPHANIE KLEIN
MyNorthwest.com

The brother of a Seattle street musician who died after he was beat by a group of teenagers is upset one of the killers is bragging about the crime.

Kelsey McMichael told KIRO Radio's Dori Monson on Wednesday, "The bottom line is there was no justice for Ed at all. No justice. They killed him."

Listen: McMichael's interview

King County Sheriff's Sergeant John Urquhart said Billy Chambers, 18, was arrested Monday night after causing a disturbance aboard a Metro Bus at the Northgate transit center. He allegedly refused to pay the fare and stopped the bus from pulling away.

Urquhart said when officers arrived, "[Chambers] bragged how his lawyer got him off with only three months after stomping 'Tuba Man' to death. He went on to say that his lawyer would get him off of these charges as well."

Listen to Urquhart's interview

Chambers was one of three teens who beat McMichaels or 'Tuba Man' in November 2008. McMichaels died from his injuries a week later. He was well-known in the Seattle area for playing outside sporting and entertainment events.

Chambers spent three months in juvenile detention for McMichael's death.

"On his death certificate it says cause of death: Homicide. And what did they get? A few months for assault. That's it," McMichaels said. "There was nothing we could do. We felt helpless even though the prosecutors tried to keep us informed about all aspects of the investigation, but there was just nothing we could do about it."

Urquhart said Chambers was issued two tickets: one for obstructing or delaying a transit vehicle, which is a misdemeanor, and another for false representation that his group was eligible for a special fare, which is also a misdemeanor. Chambers was booked into King County Jail, but has been released.

Urquhart explained that Chambers was let go the next day after an equipment malfunction prevented prosecutors from receiving the case report in time to present to the judge. He said Chambers booked into jail based on his conduct Monday night and nothing more.

Chambers was also released two weeks ago after serving time for another robbery.

KIRO Radio's Dan Mitchinson contributed to this report.

Stephanie Klein, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Stephanie joined the MyNorthwest.com team in February 2008. She has built the site into a two-time National Edward R. Murrow Award winner (Best Radio Website 2010, 2012).
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Comments (51)


  • Add A Comment

  • ayla007 wrote...
    $.10
    January 19, 2011 5:01 pm
    I would like to take this opportunity to donate $1.00. Ten rounds ought to be enough if you take your time and concentrate on placement.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    Watch Out for the Karma Wheel, Punk
    January 19, 2011 5:18 pm
    The bi__h slap for you will be something to remember.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • T Pense wrote...
    Double standards, Modern
    January 19, 2011 6:33 pm
    If these young murderers had been white, and the victim black..I guarantee,they would have been chaged with a hate crime.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • boomshakalaka wrote...
    .
    January 19, 2011 6:43 pm
    RIP Tuba Man... hope this punk-*$$ kid gets what is coming for him... someone to rip him a new one in prison.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    For me,
    January 19, 2011 7:14 pm
    Just like the Space Needle, I would leave the key and hear his talent, like the once mighty Sonics he is now gone, but every time I hear a tuba, or feel the cold,rainy wind in Seattle, I'll remember him.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • therealajmccarrell wrote...
    Derrol_O bootnecker
    January 19, 2011 7:50 pm
    Uh, yes they did assault him. He was jaywalking and they jumped on him and started beating him. He THEN spit on them. Sure, arrest him for that, which is fine, but arrest the cops for assault, purjury, obstruction of justice, assault 2 and malicious mischief.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • therealajmccarrell wrote...
    Steve Dallas
    January 19, 2011 7:53 pm
    Frankly, vigilantes would be more effective than the emotionally stunted, abuser personality punks that we have for a police force that do nothing about the festering cess-pool of crime that we have in the open-air drug and meat market that is King County, but rest assured we're safe from jaywalkers, convenience store patrons, club-hopping Iraq war vets, drunken blowhard woodcarvers, and the like. Yessiree! The pimps, drug dealers, thugs, thieves and hookers pose no threat at all. I agree, vigilanteism is probably the answer anymore. Chief Diaz is worthless.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • roguehawkfan1119 wrote...
    I don't usually encourage vigilantes...
    January 19, 2011 10:27 pm
    Here's the problem with the vigilante angle:If one single "person of color" is killed by "whitey" the NAACP/Urban League/James Bible/Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton and a host of other "repressed, misunderstood people" would cry racism and the city would launch a massive manhunt to find the "racist criminals" responsible for such a dispicable act. Actually what would work better would be if a group of "concerned citizens" did some homework and made a list of the vermin that need to be taken out and take out as many thugs as possible in one swoop.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    Sad
    January 20, 2011 12:39 am
    That a young man, before the age of 18, can't make an innocent mistake of stomping a said "Tuba Man" to death without the pitchfork minded public wanting their own brand of justice.

    If you think about it, most of this vigilante mentality could have been prevented.

    It is just sad...........

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    Paul Kersey wrote...
    January 20, 2011 3:23 am
    Why do you think the NAACP or Urban Leauge would wants this person out of jail? Just as The Right,tea party or Bias party don't want Palin linked with the shooting in AZ.She didn't shoot anyone the NAACP and Urban Leauge is not quity of this crime. Go after the system that gives breaks to this person as well as Gary Ridgeway,and rouges of all sort even WSP..elected officals etc...Black people gave him(the Tuba Guy)money too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }