Marlin Lloyd George Jr., a 37-year-old man and a proud descendant of the Suquamish and S'Klallam tribes, was killed in Seattle, Washington, following a dispute on the night of December 3, 2018. The incident, which began over a $50 rock of crack cocaine, culminated in his fatal shooting in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. George, a father of three, was a seafood harvester and fireworks salesman with deep connections to his community.
He passed away at Harborview Medical Center on December 4, 2018.
The confrontation started when George allegedly took the crack cocaine from 19-year-old Robert Fleeks Jr. without paying for it. This led to a chase that ended near the Colman Dock ferry terminal. Surveillance footage captured parts of the altercation, showing Fleeks kicking George in the face. The conflict continued, and though some of it moved off-camera, it concluded with Fleeks shooting George in the chest. After the shooting, Fleeks was seen calmly walking around George as he lay dying, picking up items from the ground, including the victim's hat and cigarettes, before fleeing as police arrived.
Robert Fleeks Jr. was quickly apprehended by police blocks away from the scene after a short chase. Witnesses identified him as the assailant. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. During the trial, Fleeks's defense claimed he acted in self-defense, alleging that George had a broken crack pipe and had swung at him. However, the jury rejected this claim, and in March 2021, Fleeks was convicted of second-degree murder. On July 23, 2021, a King County Superior Court judge sentenced him to nearly 16 years in prison. At his sentencing, Fleeks expressed remorse for his actions and apologized to George's family.
