Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have apprehended a 20-year-old murder suspect in Kenya and extradited him to the United States over the fatal shooting of a woman outside a Costco store in Tukwila, Washington.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle confirmed that the suspect was arrested in Kenya and is now being held at the King County Jail in Seattle. His bail has been set at Ksh647.5 million (USD 5 million).
The suspect, along with an alleged accomplice, also aged 20, is facing charges of murder, robbery, and attempted robbery in connection with the death of 67-year-old Yuam Ming.
According to court documents filed in the U.S., the incident occurred on January 26, 2024, when the suspect reportedly attempted to steal a purse from Ming’s sister as the two women were loading groceries into their car. During the struggle, the suspect allegedly shot and killed Ming.
Investigators say the suspect’s accomplice acted as the getaway driver during the incident. He was reportedly behind the wheel of a Porsche SUV that had been carjacked from a woman earlier the same day in Seattle.
The suspect then fled the country five days after the murder, departing on a flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Court filings allege that the suspect fled Washington immediately after a social media post identified him as a suspect in Ming's murder.
The case sparked a months-long international manhunt after the main suspect fled the US following the crime. US authorities collaborated with Kenyan security agencies and Interpol to trace and arrest him.
Following his extradition, he will face trial in Washington State, where prosecutors are expected to push for a stiff sentence if he is convicted.
Prosecutors allege that the killing was premeditated and executed with reckless disregard for human life. They are relying on surveillance footage, witness statements, and forensic evidence to build their case.
Remarkably, the entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras, dashcams from the getaway vehicle, and by a police officer who was in pursuit of the suspects following the shooting.
According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, the extradited suspect’s next court date has not yet been set. He also faces a federal charge related to the carjacking.
