On a cold December night in Tacoma, Washington, 17-year-old Antonio Malik Douglas, a Black male, was fatally shot while sitting in a car with friends. The incident occurred on December 4, 2018, in the 3700 block of Marine View Drive. Douglas, who was in the driver's seat, was struck in the torso. After the shooting, he was driven to St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, arriving around 11:40 p.m., but was pronounced dead shortly after.
The investigation into the shooting revealed a tragic
story of misadventure among teenagers. According to charging documents, a group of friends, including Antonio, were in a parked car, smoking marijuana and passing around a handgun. The shooter was identified as another 17-year-old, Dorricko Jovell Jimerson-Easterling. He later told investigators he did not believe the gun was loaded when he removed the clip and pulled the trigger. The group did not immediately drive Antonio to the hospital after he was shot.
In the days following the shooting, a 17-year-old male was arrested and booked into jail in connection with Antonio's death. This individual was Dorricko Jovell Jimerson-Easterling, who was a friend of Antonio's. Jimerson-Easterling eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm. As part of a plea agreement, his case was handled in juvenile court rather than adult court, and he was sentenced to approximately three years in Juvenile Rehabilitation. During the sentencing, it was shared that Antonio was a positive influence on Jimerson-Easterling, encouraging him to attend school and care for his family.
Antonio's family described him as a loving and helpful young man who was a leader and a role model for his younger brothers. He enjoyed wrestling, football, and working on cars. His mother, Alexis Broussard, spoke out after her son's death, making an emotional plea to teenagers to "put the guns down." Antonio was also remembered for his big heart and his involvement in youth outreach programs through his church. He had chosen to be an organ donor, a final act of giving that his family said would allow his selfless acts of kindness to live on.
