A Seattle man was sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison following a January 2023 murder where an 18-year-old man was fatally shot in Auburn.

On July 25, Usaamah Ibnhamzah Parker, 22, was sentenced to a total of 189 months in prison for second-degree murder after he was initially charged with first-degree murder. These charges stem from a Jan. 12, 2023, incident at the Coppergate Apartments in Auburn when Jay Justin Andrew, 18, was found lying in the road, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his torso and neck.

According to charging documents, a woman who was a witness to the incident identified Parker as being one of two shooters in the incident. Video footage showed a man wearing the same clothes as him running away from the scene, and when arrested, Parker identified himself as having shot at Andrew once. Parker’s codefendant, William-Key’Juanze J. Rhymer, was also identified as being a shooter by another witness, and a search of his car corroborated the incident, according to documents. Rhymer is currently awaiting a trial set for Oct. 6.

“Jay was a smart outgoing young man who had many plans for his future, but that was cut short,” a GoFundMe for Andrew states. “Jay was killed by people he trusted he would’ve been 19 April 15th 2023!! It is with great sadness that my family has to go thru this.”

Parker was sentenced to 165 months in prison, but with the weapon enhancement because a firearm was used during the commission of the crime, 24 months were added, totaling 189 months. Parker’s criminal history includes a second-degree robbery as a juvenile and an attempted second-degree robbery as a juvenile, making his offender score for second-degree murder a four.

With an offender score of four, Parker’s sentencing range was between 165 months plus a 24-month weapon enhancement — 189 months — and 265 months plus a 24-month weapon enhancement — 289 months. Parker’s defense recommended that he receive the low-end sentence of a total of 189 months, while prosecutors recommended the high-end sentence of 289 months.

According to documents, Parker’s defense argued for a lower sentence, citing that Parker was raised in difficult and sometimes traumatic circumstances, and his levels of maturity, impulse control, and cognitive abilities were tested in certain areas below the average for his age. In response, the state argued that those factors must be weighed against evidence showing that Parker was conscious of his decision to shoot Andrew, warranting the high-end sentence.

Details of the incident

According to documents, at about 8:55 p.m. Jan. 12, 2023, at the Coppergate Apartments, 4750 Auburn Way North, it was reported that there was a male in the road with a gunshot wound to the neck. Upon arrival, officers found a man identified as Andrew, who suffered multiple gunshot injuries to his torso and neck.

Documents state that at the scene, a woman who was identified as DL was located. According to documents, DL told police that Andrew was seated in the backseat, and in the front was Rhymer and a man she knew as “Osama.”

DL stated that she had known Andrew and Rhymer for about three years, and earlier that day, Andrew offered to hang out with her and Rhymer like they used to because they had a falling out. DL said that Andrew mentioned having $1,500 to spend.

According to documents, DL said that Rhymer arrived at her apartment and in the vehicle, Rhymer was in the driver’s seat, a man later identified as Parker was in the passenger seat, and Andrew was in the back driver’s side seat. DL stated that she attempted to enter the vehicle, but Rhymer got angry and told her to get out and at that point, she walked to the side of the car where Andrew was.

According to documents, DL stated that Rhymer then pulled out a pistol, aimed it at Andrew and told him to “Just give it up.” DL stated that the passenger also pulled out a gun and pointed it at Andrew, documents state. DL said that Andrew and Rhymer argued for a short time before Rhymer fired at Andrew about three to four times, and she also saw the passenger fire at Andrew. According to documents, DL said that the money that Andrew told her he had might have been the motive for the shooting, but she’s unaware if the pair of shooters were aware of the money he had.

“After Key’Juanze and the front seat passenger shot Jay, Key’Juanze pulled Jay out of the car like a ‘bag of trash,’” documents state.