Kent man charged with first-degree murder in fatal shooting in Pacific

A 22-year-old Kent man who allegedly killed a Pacific man on Friday when he fired eight gunshots into the Pacific Community Center was charged today with first-degree murder.

Two friends of the alleged shooter were charged with rendering criminal assistance.

Police and prosecutors said Sopheatheara Kim, 22, fired into the community center's multi-purpose room, fatally wounding 21-year-old Shiloh Drott, because he thought someone at a church-sponsored event was "mean-mugging" him.

Bail for Kim was denied at a first court appearance earlier this week.

A judge set bail at $1 million for Chatri Lime Thip, 19, who is charged with rendering criminal assistance to Kim and is alleged to have been with him when the shots were fired.

Salomon Nora Phe, 20, who is accused of driving Kim and Thip from the center after the shooting, also was charged with rendering criminal assistance and is being held at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent on $500,000 bail.

According to charging documents filed in King County Superior Court, Chatri said that the three men had been at a market across the street from the community center when Kim returned to the car and said two men at the event had given him dirty looks.

Police and prosecutors allege that Kim went up to the window of the community center, put up his hands to indicate a desire to fight and then began shooting when one of the men inside first shook his head "no" and then made a rude hand gesture to Kim.

All three men are all scheduled to be arraigned at the justice center in Kent on Dec. 2

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