Black Youth Killed By White Male

On Monday, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg charged 19-year-old Tristan Nevin Appleberry, who is White, with second degree murder of Aaron Sullivan, an 18-year-old African American. Police, responding to the scene of the crime, found Sullivan slumped over in the driver’s seat of a 1990 blue, 4-door Chevy Caprice on the 800 block ob 32nd Ave. S. with a gunshot wound to the back of his head last Wednesday evening. According to witness accounts from the prosecutor’s charging documents, obtained by The Seattle Medium, the incident stemmed from an on-going dispute between two other men. After a confrontation earlier that day, a group of people, including Sullivan, had congregated outside of Appleberry’s home. The group waited for a period of time and then as Sullivan and others were preparing to leave the area, witnesses claim that the saw Appleberry walking from his house towards the vehicle, driven by Sullivan, with an AK-47 assault rifle. As Sullivan began to drive off, two Black males approached the passenger side window, where Sullivan’s girlfriend was riding as a passenger, and began to punch the window. It is at that time, that it is alleged, that Appleberry fired a shot through the back window of the vehicle that hit Sullivan in the back of the head. Appleberry fled the scene after the shooting with the weapon. Given theses accounts of the incident, the second degree murder charge filed by the prosecutor’s office was surprising to many in the community –including some law enforcement officers, who spoke off the record, friends of the victim’s family, community activists and the Back community’s legal community – particularly given the accounts of the incident in the prosecutor’s charging documents and the apparent pre-meditated intent to cause death in the which Appleberry alleged planned the course in committing this murder and his flight. The charging documents, obtained by The Seattle Medium, state, “That the defendant TRISTAN NEVINS APPLEBERRY in King County, Washington, on or about July 22, 2009, while committing and attempting to commit the crime of Assault in the First Degree, and in the course of and in furtherance of said crime and in the immediate flight there from, and with intent to cause the death of another person, did cause the death of Aaron Sullivan, a human being, who was not a participant in said crime, and who died on or about July 22, 2009;” However, according to information filed with the charging documents, Appleberry’s girlfriend, who was not at the scene of the crime, provided testimony to investigators that after the shooting that Appleberry told her that “he got a gun and that the gun ‘misfired’ and he didn’t mean to shoot the male.”Sullivan was gunned down on Wednesday evening; however, it wasn’t until the weekend that the news leaked into the community that he had been killed by a white man because of the alleged hush hush by authority and the media. Most wonder about the, two “Black men” that, according to police witness report, that beat on the passengers side of the vehicle just before the fatal shot was fired, as Sullivan attempted to drive away. What about the white lady, according to police report, “…a woman emerged from the house; she was later identified as the mother of the defendant, Mrs. Sue Nevins. Mrs. Nevins stated that her son was not inside the house, and that she believed he was with his girlfriend, Ms. Chloe Shaffer. Mrs. Nevins also stated that she believed that her son was driving a tan Chrysler van.” Furthermore according to police account, the lady was giving them a ” rough time” during the stand off. Were the Black men and this lady activities viewed as accomplish or obstructionist by authorities?Many in the community felt that the incident involving the shooting of this Black victim by a White man was downed played by the media and to some degree the police department and King Prosecutor. Why is the VIP protectionism (Black and White) so apparent with these and other person of interest in this case? Many believe that race was the underlining factor, simple because during this same period last week a South Park white woman was killed, her partner assaulted and attempted murdered in their home allegedly by a Black man. Historically it is not very often nor unusual that White men in this country, Seattle/ King County is no exception, are rarely charged with killing of a Back man and when these cases are often downed played to lesser charges in many cases no charges, particularly in most high profile case. Some of the infamous case (Blacks killed by whites) are being review by the Justice Department, like Meager Evan and Emmit Till. On the other hand, historically when Blacks, particularly Black men, are allegedly =0 D involved in the murder of whites the chargers are often elevated to the maximum available – capital – and yes , statically, the sentencing in most of these cases reflect the disparities. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. County newly elected Prosecuting Attorney Daniel T. Satterberg, apparently is staying the course for “status quo” with lesser charges, of second degree murder charges against Tristan Nevin Appleberry for killing Aaron Sullivan; an Africa American youth that witnesses family and friends say he didn’t know or at least there no know connection between the two.The alleged South Park killer (Africa American) bail is ten (10) million dollars; meanwhile, the alleged killer of Aaron Sullivan (whitemale) bail is one million dollars, a tremendous disparity of 90% advantage favorable to the alleged white killer given the fact that both killers were consider high flight risk and both alleged killers, according to police report, were “armed and dangerous”. This bail disparity did not go unnoticed by one of the community supporter and friend visitor at the Sullivan home Monday when she noted, “He(Appleberry) apparently will not have any problem making that bail; the South Park alleged killer will never make his bail.” Her comments were echoed through out the community given the resource available traditionally to white defendants including in many situations relationship of Bail Bonds business and the working knowledge=2 0of the legal system via high profile crimmal attorneys; on the other hand Black defendants traditionally are likely to be appointed overworked public defendants.Needless to say there was an abundance of media coverage daily and nightly on the South Park murder by the alleged Black Killer, however, the coverage of the alleged Leshi white killer were little to none. Again the tails of two crimes, alleged murder, both vicious, one first degree on the white female murder, rightfully so, and second degree, NOT rightly fully so, of the Africa America youth murder as one outrageous caller stated on the very popular radio (ztwins radio stations, 1420 AM, 1560 AM, 1620 AM) community potpourri show, totally disgraceful and another miscarriage of justice in the Seattle Black community of another Black man. Rev. Harriet Walden, Mother for Police Accountabilities stated, “It appear that this case is being handle differently than all the other case recently in that the Seattle/ King area by King County Prosecutor as he charged the white suspect with only second degree murder of this Black youth rather than first degree murder.” Atty. Barbara Laners, Professor and host the popular Community Potpourri Show stated, “The fact and circumstances as we know then now requires the charge of first degree murder by the Prosecutor Attorney, we wonder why was race the determining factors with charges?”. There are many li ngering questions that are unanswered, particularly, the question on race in this case, many in the community wonder out loud is this a classic cover up of a connected VIP by VIPS.Aaron Sullivan, according to his mother, Debra Sullivan, PhD, was a good person that would give the shirt off his back to help the less fortunate in and around the community, as a youth, he often would cut lawns and pick up cans to provide food for homeless people. Sullivan in addition to his mother is survived by an older brother and younger sister; his father preceded his in death four year ago from a rare dieacease. (See this page for obituary for Home going service)ORIGINAL BELOW HERESEATTLE Daniel T. Satterberg, Prosecuting Attorney for King County charged Tristan Nevin Appleberry, a 19 year old white male with second degree murder of 18 year old Africa American Aaron Sullivan. According to the Prosecutor crime charging document, “… the crime Murder in the Second Degree, committed as follows: That the defendant TRISTAN NEVINS APPLEBERRY in King County, Washington, on or about July 22, 2009, while committing and attempting to commit the crime of Assault in the First Degree, and in the course of and in furtherance of said crime and in the immediate flight there from, and with intent to cause the death of another person, did cause the death of Aaron Sullivan, a human being, who was not a participant in said crime, and who died on or about July 22, 2009;”Seattle Police Department, according to the Police Department Investigation report, “… found the victim, Mr. Aaron Sullivan, in the driver seat of a Blue 1990 Chevy Caprice 4-door, with an apparent gunshot wound to the back of his head. Seattle Fire Department announced the victim dead at the scene.” He is believed to have been killed with a single shot to the head from what police describe as a long rifle. However, the preliminary news reports from the 725 -32nd Ave. South Leshi Community home where the weapon was alleged retrieved from prior to the shooting and community grape wine witnesses indicat es that this weapon was an illegal terrorist type assault weapon commonly used in wars and war related terrorist activities, AK47 assault rifle. Officially it is called in police document as a “7.62mm SKS rifle”.The second degree murder charge was surprising to many including some off the record law enforcement officers, friends of the victim family, community activists and the Back community’s legal community, particularly, given the charging statement and the apparent pre-medicated intent to cause death in the which Appleberry alleged planned the course in committing this murder and his flight. According to Seattle Police report, “It was also reported by witnesses that the suspect had fled to 72 – 32nd Ave S and was armed with an assault rifle.”Sullivan was gunned down on Wednesday evening; however, it wasn’t until the weekend that the news leaked into the community that he had been killed by a white man because of the alleged hush hush by authority and the media. Most wonder about the, two “Black men” that, according to police witness report, that beat on the passengers side of the vehicle just before the fatal shot was fired, as Sullivan attempted to drive away. What about the white lady, according to police report, “…a woman emerged from the house; she was later identified as the mother of the defendant, Mrs. Sue Nevins. Mrs. Nevins stated that her son was not inside the house, and that she believed he was with his girlfriend, Ms. Chloe Shaffer. Mrs. Nevins also stated that she believed that her son was driving a tan Chrysler van.” Furthermore according to police account, the lady was giving them a ” rough time” during the stand off. Were the Black men and this lady activities viewed as accomplish or obstructionist by authorities?Many in the community felt that the incident involving the shooting of this Black victim by a White man was downed played by the media and to some degree the police department and King Prosecutor. Why is the VIP protectionism (Black and White) so apparent with these and other person of interest in this case? Many believe that race was the underlining factor, simple because during this same period last week a South Park white woman was killed, her partner assaulted and attempted murdered in their home allegedly by a Black man. Historically it is not very often nor unusual that White men in this country, Seattle/ King County is no exception, are rarely charged with killing of a Back man and when these cases are often downed played to lesser charges in many cases no charges, particularly in most high profile case. Some of the infamous case (Blacks killed by whites) are being review by the Justice Department, like Meager Evan and Emmit Till. On the other hand, historically when Blacks, particularly Black men, are allegedly =0 D involved in the murder of whites the chargers are often elevated to the maximum available – capital – and yes , statically, the sentencing in most of these cases reflect the disparities. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. County newly elected Prosecuting Attorney Daniel T. Satterberg, apparently is staying the course for “status quo” with lesser charges, of second degree murder charges against Tristan Nevin Appleberry for killing Aaron Sullivan; an Africa American youth that witnesses family and friends say he didn’t know or at least there no know connection between the two.The alleged South Park killer (Africa American) bail is ten (10) million dollars; meanwhile, the alleged killer of Aaron Sullivan (whitemale) bail is one million dollars, a tremendous disparity of 90% advantage favorable to the alleged white killer given the fact that both killers were consider high flight risk and both alleged killers, according to police report, were “armed and dangerous”. This bail disparity did not go unnoticed by one of the community supporter and friend visitor at the Sullivan home Monday when she noted, “He(Appleberry) apparently will not have any problem making that bail; the South Park alleged killer will never make his bail.” Her comments were echoed through out the community given the resource available traditionally to white defendants including in many situations relationship of Bail Bonds business and the working knowledge=2 0of the legal system via high profile crimmal attorneys; on the other hand Black defendants traditionally are likely to be appointed overworked public defendants.Needless to say there was an abundance of media coverage daily and nightly on the South Park murder by the alleged Black Killer, however, the coverage of the alleged Leshi white killer were little to none. Again the tails of two crimes, alleged murder, both vicious, one first degree on the white female murder, rightfully so, and second degree, NOT rightly fully so, of the Africa America youth murder as one outrageous caller stated on the very popular radio (ztwins radio stations, 1420 AM, 1560 AM, 1620 AM) community potpourri show, totally disgraceful and another miscarriage of justice in the Seattle Black community of another Black man. Rev. Harriet Walden, Mother for Police Accountabilities stated, “It appear that this case is being handle differently than all the other case recently in that the Seattle/ King area by King County Prosecutor as he charged the white suspect with only second degree murder of this Black youth rather than first degree murder.” Atty. Barbara Laners, Professor and host the popular Community Potpourri Show stated, “The fact and circumstances as we know then now requires the charge of first degree murder by the Prosecutor Attorney, we wonder why was race the determining factors with charges?”. There are many li ngering questions that are unanswered, particularly, the question on race in this case, many in the community wonder out loud is this a classic cover up of a connected VIP by VIPS.Aaron Sullivan, according to his mother, Debra Sullivan, PhD, was a good person that would give the shirt off his back to help the less fortunate in and around the community, as a youth, he often would cut lawns and pick up cans to provide food for homeless people. Sullivan in addition to his mother is survived by an older brother and younger sister; his father preceded his in death four year ago from a rare dieacease. (See this page for obituary for Home going service)