Federal Way man faces trial for 2021 Kent bus stop murder

Two years after Antonio Wells was shot and killed at a bus stop on November 26, 2021, a Federal Way suspect is now on trial for the murder. The killing occurred at the exact same location where two of Wells' sons were shot and killed two days earlier.

Corniche Washington was charged with second-degree premeditated murder and unauthorized taking of a vehicle. On September 9, the state and Washington's defense made opening statements on the first day of his trial.

The murder occurred on the west side of the Pacific Highway at a bus stop south of the Kent Des Moines Road intersection in Kent.

King County District Attorney Jacqueline Lawrence alleges that Washington shot Wells in the back and then shot him multiple times while he was on the ground, unlawfully killing him.

Lawrence said there was evidence that Washington was at the crime scene, including a hat and jacket with his DNA on it, as well as bullets in his Federal Way apartment that were the same type found at the crime scene.

“Wells was ultimately shot as he walked away. While Mr. Wells fell to the ground on the street in front of the bus stop, the man continued to approach him, continued to fire his weapon, and shot him as Mr. Wells lay on the ground,” Lawrence said. “The man walked past the body of Mr. Antonio Wells Sr. as he lay dying in the street to take Mr. Wells' black Cadillac Escalade and flee the area.”

She described how events began when Wells approached Washington at the bus stop. Lawrence said Wells and Washington knew each other and were initially cordial, but then a conflict arose and Wells decided to leave the situation before conflict arose again.

An eyewitness saw Washington make some comment, and Wells turned around, walked toward Washington and punched him once in the face, Lawrence said. Lawrence said Washington shot Wells, knocking him to the ground, and eyewitnesses said Washington continued to advance and fire.

Lawrence said Wells was shot in the back of the leg, back and chest and his wounds were so severe that no medical intervention could have saved him. Lawrence said Washington fled to the Mariposa apartment complex in Federal Way, where he spent some time before fleeing to Phoenix until he was arrested on Jan. 12, 2022.

Lawrence said the shell casings found at the scene of Wells' children's death two days earlier came from the same gun used to shoot Wells. She said jurors would learn that Wells had multiple faces, as he was a member of the '74 Hoover gang and was known by the street name “Bone.” She said she would ask the jury to find Washington guilty because the evidence showed Wells' death was a premeditated murder.

Bullets were found at the crime scene. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/The Mirror

The defense, led by Emily Gause and Mariko Lisa Mulligan, said Wells' shooting was in self-defense after Wells beat and threatened Washington.

Gause, who delivered opening statements, did not dispute that Washington had been at the scene, and they said Washington had taken responsibility for shooting Wells' two sons two days earlier, although he has not been charged. Gause said the Nov. 24 shooting of Wells' sons was in self-defense after Wells' sons and another boy approached Washington and tried to rob him at gunpoint before Washington fled when shot at and then shot back at the three boys, hitting all three but killing none.

Gause said Washington returned to the scene two days later to find out why three boys had tried to rob him and whether they still posed a threat. Gause said someone at the scene told Washington the boys he shot were Wells' children and that Wells was actively looking for Washington.

Gause said Wells arrived at the scene and as he approached Washington, he realized he was under the influence of methamphetamine. She said Washington had seen him smoke methamphetamine before, his demeanor changed and his jaw trembled. She said when Wells was high, he was aggressive and reckless.

“He accused Corniche of shooting his children. Corniche denied being there. He said, 'It wasn't me. I don't know why people said it was me.' Bone replied, 'If you don't clear your name, you're not getting off this block.' And when Bone said that, he backed away like he was about to pull out a gun and shoot right now,” Gause said. “So Corniche followed him and as he did that, he said to Bone, 'Calm down, calm down. I didn't shoot anybody.' Corniche just repeated that in hopes that Bone would actually believe him.”

Gause said Wells then announced, “The Hoovers will be out tonight,” and then told Washington he was going to get his family. She said Corniche admitted to shooting Wells' children and Wells told him he had something for him after hitting him and then returned to his vehicle. Gause said Washington had only seconds to save his life because he knew Wells was going to shoot him, so he shot Wells' legs to stop him, causing him to fall to the ground.

“He kept telling Corniche that he was going to kill him and his family. He kept yelling threats while reaching into his waistband. Corniche immediately thought Bone had to have a gun on him,” Gause said. “So Corniche reacted. My life or his. So he shot again. He was terrified. He couldn't wait to see if Bone would shoot him. He had to act as quickly as possible. So he shot again and Bone stopped reaching for the gun.”