In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 5, 2023, James Reha, a 35-year-old White / Caucasian male from University Place, was fatally shot at the Alleycat Patio and Lounge in Tacoma, Washington. The incident, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. at the bar on 6th Avenue, also resulted in the death of another individual, Monic Lashaye Swan, and left three others with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that Reha's death was a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds.
Witnesses reported that the tragic events unfolded after a verbal altercation broke out near the pool tables. An argument between two men escalated, and James Reha reportedly stepped in to de-escalate the situation. At that point, one of the men involved in the dispute, later identified as the suspect, produced a firearm and began shooting.
The alleged gunman, 28-year-old Alante Bryan Peterson, also known by the street name "Dangerous," fled the scene after the shooting. However, later that same day, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Peterson surrendered to the Tacoma Police Department. He was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated murder, two counts of first-degree murder, and three counts of first-degree assault. His bail was set at $4 million.
In the wake of the violence, a memorial of flowers, cards, and candles grew outside the Alleycat Patio & Lounge as the community mourned the loss of James Reha and Monic Lashaye Swan. Reha's sister remembered him as a family-oriented man and a natural protector who was deeply cherished by his nieces and nephews.
