Authorities in Washington are seeking the cooperation of the public to locate a teenager believed to be connected to a homicide case. On October 16, Major Crimes Detectives from the King County Sheriff’s Office identified 17-year-old Miguel Rivera Dominguez as a suspect in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Marcel Da’jon Wagner, which occurred on October 3 at around 5:10 p.m. while both individuals were passengers on a Metro Bus.
Authorities have stated that the two individuals did not seem to be acquainted, and they have characterized the shooting as an unprovoked incident.
Wagner was reportedly asleep at the time of the shooting, with approximately 15 other passengers aboard the bus.
A spokesperson from the King County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Thursday that the search for the suspect is ongoing.
Although Dominguez remains at large, he is facing charges of first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
His bail has been set at $3 million, and because the suspect is 17 years old, he is being charged as an adult.
As stated in a press release issued by the sheriff’s office, “Deputies of the King County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the area near SW Roxbury ST and 15th Ave SW in response to reports of a shooting incident that took place on a Metro bus. Upon their arrival, deputies found a sole victim, who regrettably was declared deceased at the scene.”
The department deployed “various specialized units, including Guardian 1 aerial support and a K9 Unit,” in an effort to locate the suspect, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
According to charging documents, “with premeditated intent to cause the death of another person, [Dominguez] caused the death of Marcel D. Wagner,” as reported by ABC News.
It’s worth noting that Dominguez has no prior criminal record.
“Without any provocation and without any prior interaction with the victim, the defendant discharged five rounds into the victim’s head and neck at close range,” stated Leesa Manion, the prosecuting attorney for King County, as detailed in the charging documents, according to ABC News. “The defendant subsequently fired two additional shots through the bus door, then changed his clothing at a different location before returning home. Manion alleged that Dominguez’s actions were deliberate.”
“The measures the defendant employed to mask his identity and his premeditated conduct on the bus emphasize the purposeful and calculated character of this offense,” she remarked.
The prosecuting attorney characterized the crime as a “brutal, unwarranted act against an unsuspecting stranger,” expressing concerns that, if given an opportunity, Dominguez “may engage in further acts of violence.”
The sheriff’s office, in its press release, has labeled Dominguez as “potentially armed and highly dangerous.” It says, “The individual in question has significant connections within the Burien vicinity, frequently utilizing public transit or accepting rides from acquaintances. He is expected to wear a mask to obscure his identity when in public.”
