On a bright May afternoon in 2019, the life of 19-year-old Royale Lexing, a Black / African American male, was cut short by a burst of gunfire in Seattle's Central District. The shooting erupted in broad daylight on May 10th while Lexing was with friends. In the chaos of the shootout between multiple individuals, Lexing was fatally wounded. He was rushed in a private vehicle to Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill, but he had already succumbed to his injuries by the time he arrived.
Two other individuals were also injured in the violent exchange.
Family and community members mourned the loss of a young man they described as special and full of laughter. His mother, Laura Walker, remembered him as a smart jokester who was not involved in gangs and was on the verge of starting a new job. Mentors from Therapeutic Health Services, an organization where Lexing was involved in a youth violence prevention program, echoed these sentiments. They remembered him as a success story who brought life and an infectious smile to everyone around him, a young man who was actively working to turn his life around and had been honored at the organization's annual fundraiser for the progress he had made.
In the wake of the shooting, the Seattle Police Department increased patrols in the area and the Gang Unit provided assistance in the investigation. For over a year, however, the case remained unsolved, with no arrests made, leaving Lexing's family and the community awaiting justice. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and interviewed witnesses, but the shooter or shooters remained at large. The community held vigils and memorials, expressing their grief and frustration over the senseless violence that had claimed a promising young life.
Then, in November 2020, a significant breakthrough was announced in the case. Prosecutors charged three men, Davevion Irving, Jamier Porter, and Micah Bishop, with first-degree murder for the death of Royale Lexing and with attempted murder for the injuries sustained by the two other victims. Authorities reported that the three suspects were members of different South Seattle gangs who shared a common affiliation. The charges brought a long-awaited step towards accountability in a case that had deeply affected the Central District community.
