A 19-year-old Skyway woman died Monday afternoon, after being allegedly shot by her boyfriend with a .22-caliber handgun last Thursday.
After intense media coverage, Louis Guswalter Parker, also known as “Bart” Parker, turned himself in Sunday, said Sheriff’s Deputy Travis DeFries.
The prosecutor’s office originally charged Parker with first-degree assault but is now considering amending the charge to murder, said spokesman Dan Donohoe.
Because of the crime’s violent nature and Parker’s “obvious commitment to a lifestyle that includes guns and crime” his bail was set at $1 million, according to the documents.
Parker’s arraignment is Aug. 20. Parker is being held in the county jail in downtown Seattle.
Parker has an extensive criminal record, including second-degree assault, robbery, burglary and unlawful possession of firearms. He also associates with the West Side Street Mob, according to the documents.
Markesha Monroe, the victim, suffered “devastating injuries” to her brain after being shot in the head. She was flown to Harborview Medical Center but was not expected to survive, according to court documents.
Despite conflicting reports from family, hospital staff reported that the victim was not pregnant, DeFries said.
The shooting occurred at about 12:20 p.m. Aug. 6 at the home of the victim’s aunt, Lakaia Dade, on the 7900 block of South 125th St. in Skyway.
Monroe and Parker were alone in a bedroom when Dade heard Monroe call out “Stop Bart” followed by a gunshot, according to the documents.
Dade waited a minute outside the locked bedroom door before Parker unlocked it and said Monroe was playing with the gun when she accidentally shot herself, according to the report.
Lakaia Dade, the aunt, called 911 saying, “My baby’s been shot,” DeFries said.
Parker fled the scene through the bedroom window, eluding sheriff’s deputies for about three days (read about it here) before his family arranged that he turn himself in, DeFries said.
