Originally published Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Comments (4)
E-mail article
Print view
Man charged in slaying of hip-hop artist at Chop Suey
An 18-year-old Seattle man who police say fatally shot a hip-hop performer and wounded two others at a popular Capitol Hill nightclub last weekend was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and first-degree assault.
Seattle Times staff reporter

Carlos Bernardez, left, is accused in the slaying; police say Roger La Branche, right, is connected with the case.

Roger LaBranche, 25, is a suspect in a shooting at Chop Suey restaurant. He has not been charged.
An 18-year-old Seattle man who police say fatally shot a hip-hop performer and wounded two others at a popular Capitol Hill nightclub last weekend was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and first-degree assault.
Carlos Bernardez is accused of killing 24-year-old Joseph Ryan, also known as 29-E, at Chop Suey early Sunday, according to charging papers filed in King County Superior Court. Also wounded was promoter Avery Turner, also known as Prezwell Jackson, and James Jones.
Roger La Branche, a 25-year-old Everett man who police say is connected with the case, was charged with drug possession. He is being held at the King County Jail on $500,000 bail.
King County prosecutors and Seattle police have not said what they believe was the motive for the shooting, but Jones told officers it stemmed from a long-standing dispute between him and La Branche, according to a document of probable cause prepared by Seattle police.
Jones told police that La Branche had recently been involved in a drive-by shooting at his apartment, court charging papers said. Jones was treated at Harborview Medical Center after the shooting and has since been released.
Bernardez, who is being held at the King County Jail in lieu of $2 million bail, told police La Branche handed him a handgun and asked him to help him with a shooting, according to the charging papers.
According to the probable-cause document, Bernardez is alleged to have knocked at the club's back door and requested entry. After speaking to the three victims briefly, he opened fire and then fled, according to charging papers.
Jones told police he turned and ran down a hallway into the main portion of the club, where he claims he was confronted by La Branche. He told police La Branche pulled out a handgun and shot him, although La Branche was not charged Wednesday with a shooting.
La Branche then was restrained by Jones and several other witnesses until officers arrived and took him into custody, according to police.
After the shootings, police searched the rental car that La Branche drove to the club that night and found cocaine, Ecstasy, OxyContin and marijuana. Police also found a 9-mm handgun and more than $7,000 in cash, according to charging documents.
According to juvenile-court documents, Bernardez entered a deferred disposition to a charge of being a juvenile in possession of a firearm after a 2007 arrest in Seattle. King County prosecutors say that if he is convicted of the Chop Suey shootings, Bernardez faces up to 40 years in prison.
Bernardez and La Branche will be arraigned Jan. 21.
Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall
Danny Westneat: Lee the Horse Logger found slow wagon shrank tumor
Parents want answers on new Seattle school boundaries
3 Cascade Mountain passes close due to snow; more rain, wind expected Sunday

Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
- 3 Cascade Mountain passes close due to snow; more rain, wind expected Sunday
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
- Heavy snow in Cascades shuts down roads
- UCLA game thread
940 - Weapons, bomb-making materials found in suspect's apartment
336 - U.S. House passes health plan
317 - Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
229 - Decision day for health care in the House
207 - Grading the game
148 - Referendum 71 show's Washington's strategy for marriage equality is working
134 - Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
108 - Sounders FC-Dynamo playoff Game 2 thread
74 - How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall
72
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- The birth of 'Grunge,' in photos by Michael Lavine
- How do innovators think?
- 10 investing missteps to avoid
- 10 ways to take control of your health
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Danny Westneat | Lee the Horse Logger found slow wagon shrank tumor
- Tlingit heritage helps glass artist Preston Singletary break new ground
- How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall








