Andrae Medina-Wong, a 28-year-old Black / African American male, was fatally shot on October 29, 2015, in SeaTac, Washington, following a dispute over a marijuana transaction. The events leading to his death began earlier that day when Medina-Wong and a companion arranged to purchase marijuana through a Craigslist ad. After a couple of unsuccessful meetings in Bellevue, they met a seller in Burien.
During this transaction, it is alleged that either Medina-Wong or his friend took a jar of marijuana and fled in their Mercedes.
The seller, later identified as 39-year-old Aaron David Parypa of West Seattle, pursued them in his SUV. The chase ended at the intersection of South 154th Street and 24th Avenue South in SeaTac. It was there that Parypa pulled alongside the Mercedes and fired multiple shots from a. 223 caliber rifle into the vehicle. Medina-Wong was struck by gunfire in the head and chest. He exited the car and collapsed on the road, where he was pronounced dead at the scene. His companion, who was also in the car, managed to flee and was later found by investigators hiding in a nearby wooded area.
For five weeks, the gunman remained at large. On December 3, 2015, Aaron David Parypa was arrested at his home in West Seattle and booked into the King County Detention Center. He was initially charged with second-degree murder for the death of Andrae Medina-Wong and first-degree assault for endangering the life of Medina-Wong's companion. Following his arrest, Parypa reportedly made statements about being angry with people who steal from him.
Ultimately, Aaron David Parypa entered into a plea bargain, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. In July 2016, a King County Superior Court judge sentenced him to 21 months in prison. He was given credit for the nearly eight months he had already served in custody. The court noted that Parypa had no prior criminal record. Family and friends of both Medina-Wong and Parypa were present for the sentencing.
