On the evening of January 16, 2022, 36-year-old Michael Darden Jr. was fatally shot during a domestic dispute in his apartment near 24th and Union in Seattle’s Central District. Present were Darden, his 14-year-old son, the boy’s mother, and her boyfriend, 28-year-old Deshaun Sanford. The teen pushed Sanford out and locked the door, but the mother let Sanford back in.

Darden intervened and the two men struggled, ending with Sanford on top of Darden. The teen tried to grab Sanford’s arm; Sanford then fired, mortally wounding Michael Darden. Officers responding to multiple 911 calls followed a silver Dodge Challenger that fled the scene. Sanford refused to stop, crashed at 19th and Cherry, and was removed from the overturned car where police found a handgun. Sanford was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, second-degree assault, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, and attempting to elude.

Darden was described as a devoted husband to Chuntee Darden and a loving father; the community raised thousands to help with funeral expenses. If anyone knew Michael, his family, or witnessed the events that night, please share what you know.