In the early morning hours of November 2, 2017, a tragic event unfolded at the Golden Kent Motel in Kent, Washington, forever altering the lives of those involved. David Cabrera, a 24-year-old male, was in a motel room with his girlfriend when their lives were violently interrupted. An unknown man entered their room and, following a brief and tense exchange, shot Cabrera in the face. The gunman then fled the scene, taking Cabrera's backpack with him.
Cabrera's girlfriend, who was also threatened during the incident, managed to escape and seek help from the motel office.
The Kent Police Department responded to the scene at approximately 8:03 a.m. to find that the shooter had already escaped in a silver or gray four-door sedan. Investigators immediately launched a thorough investigation, utilizing surveillance footage and witness accounts to piece together the events of that morning. Their efforts led them to identify two suspects: 50-year-old Stonney Marcus Rivers, believed to be the shooter, and 47-year-old Theneious Swafford, the alleged getaway driver. Both men had extensive criminal histories.
Further investigation revealed that Swafford had visited Cabrera at the motel earlier that morning. It is believed that after this visit, Rivers was dropped off nearby and proceeded to Cabrera's room. Both Rivers and Swafford were subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Rivers also faced a charge of second-degree assault. The case against them highlighted complexities within the criminal justice system, as it was revealed that Rivers had previously been granted clemency from a life sentence in 2015.
