Not guilty plea in Central Area fatal shooting

A 23-year-old Seattle man accused of killing the owner of a Central Area restaurant last month pleaded not guilty to several charges at his arraignment this morning in King County Superior Court.

Rey Alberto Davis-Bell, of Seattle, is charged with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder in connection with an alleged shooting spree on Jan. 30.

Prosecutors said in charging documents that Davis-Bell fired gunshots into the window of an ex-girlfriend's West Seattle apartment, narrowly missing the woman and her infant.

Davis-Bell is then alleged to have driven to the Central Area and fatally shot Degene Berecha Dashasa, 31, at the Ethiopian immigrant's restaurant, Philadelphia Cheese Steak, and seriously wounded a customer.

Police said Davis-Bell is also suspected of firing gunshots in a drive-by shooting in South Seattle in which no one was injured.

Davis-Bell was the subject of an intensive manhunt until he was captured the next day with the help of tips from his family. Davis-Bell remains jailed on $2 million bail and is scheduled for his next court appearance on April 10.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com