In the early hours of April 24, 2020, a young Hispanic man named Fernando Barnie Arias, 22, was shot and killed in SeaTac, Washington. The incident that led to his death began with an argument inside a 7-Eleven on 200th Street. This dispute spilled out into the parking lot, where it tragically escalated. Arias was later found deceased in the driver's seat of his car, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to the arrest of a 16-year-old
suspect a few days later at his apartment near the convenience store. Authorities also indicated they were searching for a second teenage suspect in connection with the fatal shooting. The arrested teenager was identified as Eddie Sulcer, who was subsequently charged with second-degree murder for his role in the death of Arias.
The legal proceedings against Sulcer were lengthy, stretching over a period of nearly four years while he remained in custody. His first trial concluded with a hung jury, unable to reach a unanimous verdict. This necessitated a second trial to determine his fate. In February 2024, the second jury delivered a verdict of not guilty. They concluded that the shooting of Fernando Arias was an act of self-defense. Following the verdict, Eddie Sulcer was released from the King County Jail.
