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Prosecutors Charge Cousin of Man Killed In Lake Sammamish Shootout With Gun Possession

By Jonah Spangenthal-Lee July 28, 2010

An alleged gang member, and cousin of a man killed in a shootout in Lake Sammamish State Park earlier this month, is facing weapons charges after police found a cache of guns and ammunition at his home in Renton.


According to court documents, a witness told police that David Keowongphet—a member of the Crips-affiliated Asian Boyz gang, police say—was present during an altercation at the park on July 17th, shortly before members of two groups opened fire on each other. "It sounded like people were emptying their clips," the witness later told police.


Keowongphet's cousin, Yang Keovongphet, and another man, Justin Cunningham, died at the scene from "multiple" gunshot wounds, police say. Three other people were also shot—two in the legs and one in the chest—and another man also sustained "trauma" to his face.


Police found .45 caliber, .40 caliber, and 9mm handguns and more than 20 shell casings at the scene.


Following the shooting, King County Major Crime detectives interviewed Yang Keovongphet's wife, who told police her husband's cousin, Keowongphet, and his "homeboys" had been in an altercation with several members of her group in the moments before the gunfire erupted in the park, and that she had seen Keowongphet firing a gun into the air during the incident.


The woman also told police that the day after the shooting, Keowongphet called her and asked "if everything was cool," court documents say. The woman "told him no and that his group had killed her husband."


Police arrested Keowongphet at his home in Renton, where detectives allegedly found body armor, a loaded .45 caliber Sig Sauer pistol and ammunition under a mattress, a .40 caliber pistol, and a Walther P99, as well as "various types of ammunition" and shell casings throughout the home and backyard.


Court records say David Keowongphet has prior convictions for assault, attempting to elude, and weapons possession, and cannot legally own a firearm.


Keowongphet is scheduled to be arraigned on August 4th.

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