James Reha

James Reha, a 35-year-old White/Caucasian male from University Place, Washington, was remembered by his sister as a "family guy" and a "protector." Though he had no children of his own, she said he treated his nieces and nephews as if they were, and his loss left a deep hole in their lives. A friend simply described him as being "like my brother."

In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 5, 2023, Reha was at the Alleycat Patio and Lounge on 6th Avenue in Tacoma. An argument broke out near the pool tables between two men, and according to witnesses, the situation was becoming physically tense. Reha saw the confrontation escalating and stepped in to try and de-escalate it.

His attempt to make peace was met with sudden violence. One of the men involved in the dispute produced a firearm and began shooting. According to a prosecutor, the man fired randomly throughout the bar, striking multiple people. Reha was hit by several bullets and died from his injuries. Another patron, Monic Lashaye Swan, was also killed, and three other people were wounded with non-life-threatening injuries. The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed Reha’s death was a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds.

The alleged gunman, identified as 28-year-old Alante Bryan Peterson, who also went by the street name "Dangerous," fled the scene after the shooting. However, later that same day at around 4:30 p.m., Peterson arrived at Tacoma police headquarters with his lawyer and turned himself in to authorities.

Peterson was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated murder, two counts of first-degree murder, and three counts of first-degree assault. At his arraignment, where his bail was set at $4 million, Peterson pleaded not guilty. As of his court appearance in November 2023, the case was pending trial.

In the wake of the tragedy, a memorial of flowers, candles, and heartfelt letters grew outside the bar as the community mourned. "He was innocently trying to stop an altercation and his life got taken," his sister Suzanne said. "We'll miss him a lot."