On a fall afternoon in 2015, a tragedy unfolded in a wooded area on the property of Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Lakewood, Washington, forever altering the lives of two families. Alexander Noah Demello, a 13-year-old Caucasian male, was with his older brother and a 17-year-old friend, Adonis Brown, when he was shot in the face on October 20th. The group had gained access to the military base through a hole in a perimeter fence.
Alexander succumbed to his injuries in a hospital several days later.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Adonis Brown fled the scene. He was located by authorities hours later at his girlfriend's house. According to Alexander's brother, who was present at the scene, he heard a gunshot and turned to see his brother on the ground and Brown holding a gun. Brown later gave a backpack that contained bloody clothing and a handgun to a friend. He initially told investigators that he and Alexander were passing the gun back and forth when it accidentally discharged as he "fidgeted with it".
Adonis Brown, who had a prior assault conviction, was arrested and charged as an adult with second-degree manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm. In February 2016, he pleaded guilty to the charges. At his sentencing, Brown expressed remorse, stating that he fled the scene because he was scared, confused, and ashamed. The judge sentenced him to nearly eight years in prison for his role in Alexander's death.
The investigation also led to the arrest of Adonis Brown's 21-year-old uncle, Richard Gastelum, who was accused of providing the handgun to his underage nephew. However, prosecutors later dropped the charges against Gastelum, citing difficulties in proving that he was the one who gave the gun to Brown. The dismissal was with prejudice, meaning the charges cannot be refiled. In the wake of their son's death, Alexander's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging that a long-standing hole in the fence at Joint Base Lewis-McChord contributed to the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting.
