On the evening of January 22, 2015, 19-year-old Erik Raul Reynaga was found fatally shot in the parking lot of the Crystal Pointe Apartments in Federal Way, Washington, near building 9. Officers arrived at about 8 p.m. after reports of shots fired; shell casings and vehicles struck by bullets were later documented at the scene. Witnesses said they heard several gunshots, screams, and saw two men in dark clothing firing weapons while taking cover behind a vehicle.

Investigators developed a narrative that the shooting followed a planned confrontation. Reynaga had been called to his mother’s apartment in the complex to deal with a situation involving others. Kenneth Sak-See, 19, later told police he went with Reynaga, fired a 9mm into the air from the passenger seat to scare the other group, and fired additional shots into the air after they returned and parked; Sak-See fled on foot after Reynaga was shot. Sak-See was charged with attempted drive-by shooting, but authorities did not believe he fired the lethal shot and said other people likely fired weapons that night.

Prosecutors were weighing a strong element of self-defense regarding whoever may have fired the fatal shot, and the investigation into additional participants remained active.