On a spring afternoon in Lakewood, Washington, the life of 43-year-old Black / African American Jesse Hinton came to a violent end. The events of May 2, 2017, unfolded outside a barbershop near Steilacoom Boulevard Southwest and South Tacoma Way, stemming from a years-old grudge. Hinton, along with his cousin Charles McKee and at least one other accomplice, had planned an ambush.
Their target was a man named Cavell Reed, who had allegedly shot Hinton in the back in 2015.
Waiting in a van, Hinton and his accomplices saw Reed exit the barbershop. They drove towards him and opened fire. The barrage of bullets not only targeted Reed but also struck the barbershop, endangering the lives of others inside, including a mother and her two young children. Reed, who was also armed, returned fire in what was determined to be self-defense. In the exchange of gunfire, Hinton was struck while he was driving the getaway van.
The van, now out of control due to Hinton's injury, crashed into a utility pole a short distance away. When police arrived, they found Jesse Hinton deceased inside the vehicle. His accomplices had fled the scene. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of his cousin, Charles McKee. For his part in the planned ambush, McKee was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.
Cavell Reed, the intended victim of the ambush, was not charged in Hinton's death. However, due to prior felony convictions, it was illegal for him to possess a firearm. He pleaded guilty to unlawful gun possession and was sentenced to over five years in prison. The third individual believed to have been in the van with Hinton and McKee was still being sought by police following the incident.
