WHITE CENTER, Wash. — King County Sheriff's Office officials confirm that a man shot and killed in White Center early Sunday morning had been trying to break up a fight.
Family members of James Little rushed to the scene after waking up to news that their loved one had been gunned down.
“He was loving, kindhearted, even though he had a rough past,” sister LaCreasha Washington said. “He was my brother. I loved him.”
Little was shot and killed outside of the old Marv's Broiler - now known as the Taradise Café on 16th Avenue Southwest around 1:45 a.m. on Sunday.
His family spent hours at the scene, trying to make sense of the tragedy.
“My son had his bout with the life, street life and stuff but he was really changing,” his mother, Yvette Dailey, said “For whoever to walk up and just murder him in cold blood, is just another senseless killing.”
They say Little, who was 30 years old, was attending a birthday party.
Officials say two women started fighting inside the club, and it spilled out onto the street. Little tried to break up the fight, and ended up being shot in the head.
“I hope the people that he helped, they realize that he gave his life to help them and whatever drama that they were in,” cousin Trebla Lowe added.
Officials say Little appears to have been targeted. But they don't know why.
At this point, they don't think the shooter was at the party.
His family says he'd grown up in Seattle but was now living in California, where he moved with his fiance to start his life over. He'd returned to attend a domestic violence court hearing and had only been in town for seven days.
“If you guys know anything to help find the person or person's who murdered my son today I'd greatly appreciate it if you come forward,” Dailey added.
The Sheriff's Office says it has obtained surveillance video of what happened. But, they won't be sharing it at this time.
They don't have much of a suspect description only that the shooter was wearing a hoodie.
Cox Media Group
