In the spring of 2014, the life of 27-year-old Demario Washington, a Black/African American male, was cut short in a fatal shooting. On the evening of May 7, Washington was at the Silver Shadow Apartments in Federal Way, Washington, when he was shot and killed. The King County Medical Examiner's office later confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound to the head, ruling his death a homicide.
The investigation into Washington's death quickly led Federal Way police to identify a suspect:
28-year-old Bernard Bellerouche. Considered armed and dangerous, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Authorities, including Valley SWAT members, attempted to locate Bellerouche at his last known residence on Pacific Highway South but were unsuccessful. Numerous witnesses were interviewed, which aided police in identifying Bellerouche as the primary suspect. The manhunt for Bellerouche concluded on May 24, 2014, when U.S. Marshals apprehended him in Kennewick.
Following his arrest, Bellerouche was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Demario Washington and unlawful possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $2 million, a reflection of his extensive criminal history which included assault, robbery, harassment, and theft. On June 12, 2014, Bellerouche pleaded not guilty to the charges against him at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. In addition to the murder of Washington, authorities also considered Bellerouche a person of interest in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old U.S. Marine George J. Gabriel in Federal Way on May 13, 2014, and another shooting in Des Moines that injured a 28-year-old man.
However, the legal proceedings took an unexpected turn. In May of 2015, after Bellerouche had been incarcerated for a year, the King County Prosecutor's Office dismissed the murder charges against him. Prosecutors stated that new information had come to light, leading them to believe they could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. While the specifics of this new information were not publicly disclosed, the dismissal meant that Bellerouche was released from jail. The Federal Way Police Department stated their commitment to continuing the investigation, holding out hope that more evidence or witnesses would emerge.
