Stock photo, Metro Creative Graphics

Stock photo, Metro Creative Graphics

Seattle man, 19, charged in Kent apartment killing; injuring 2 others

Aug. 28 shooting at Irwin Park Apartments

A 19-year-old Seattle man faces charges of first-degree murder and first-degree assault for allegedly shooting three men Aug. 28 inside a Kent apartment.

Dijion Ray Taylor-Johnson reportedly killed Reese Gainer, 23, who was in the process of moving to Washington from Atlanta, Georgia. He allegedly critically injured a 23-year-old Kent man and another 23-year-old man who also was moving to the state from Georgia, during a shooting at about 8:45 p.m. at the Irwin Park Apartments, 25822 110th Ave. SE.

Taylor-Johnson is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 27 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. Taylor-Johnson remains in the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle with bail set at $4 million.

Taylor-Johnson and a second shooter, who has not been identified, reportedly fired at least 22 shots inside the apartment, according to charging papers. One shooter positioned himself outside the dining room window, where one of the victims was sitting inside facing away from the window and watching TV as his mother fixed dinner for them in the kitchen.

The other shooter positioned himself outside the sliding glass door, less than 10 feet from where two men, including Gainer, were sleeping on the couch, according to court documents.

Earlier on Aug. 28, Taylor-Johnson reportedly shot and injured in Seattle one of the same men he later injured again at the apartment shooting, according to charging papers. Taylor-Johnson had been asked to move out of the Kent apartment. He also was confronted by the man about an affair Taylor-Johnson was having with one of his friends.

Taylor-Johnson allegedly shot the man in the leg. Within hours, and while the man was still at the hospital, Taylor-Johnson reportedly messaged the man on Instagram, taunting him and claiming that he could have killed him if he wanted to, according to court documents.

Just hours after the man was released from the hospital and returned to his Kent apartment, Taylor-Johnson and another shooter reportedly carried out the threats and fired the multiple shots at the Kent apartment.

A friend of Taylor-Johnson, however, told detectives that a few days after the homicide Taylor-Johnson said he, “went in there and shot them,” so that they could not shoot him in retaliation of the earlier shooting in Seattle.

“There is no other way to describe the defendant’s conduct other than brazen, aggressive and critically dangerous,” wrote Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brandy Gevers in court documents.

When Kent Police officers arrived at the apartment, they found one man conscious outside the rear sliding glass door, according to police documents. He had been shot at least twice in the upper portion of his back. Another man had multiple gunshot wounds and was laying on the living room floor. Gainer was unconscious and laying near the other man on the living room floor. He had multiple gunshot wounds, including at least one to the head.

The pattern of casings on the ground indicated to detectives that there were likely two shooters.

Paramedics transported the three men to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Gainer later died from his injuries. He suffered four gunshot wounds, two went through his head and caused his death, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. One shot went through his hand and another grazed his clavicle.

Detectives discovered that Gainer and another man were temporarily staying at the Kent apartment after they had just arrived Aug. 26 from Atlanta. They were looking for a place to live.

Taylor-Johnson reportedly got in an argument at a Seattle apartment with two of the men that led to the initial shooting, according to court documents.

Detectives had the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab run tests on the casings found in Seattle and Kent and that showed the casings appeared to be from the same gun, according to charging papers.

Detectives were provided with a phone number for Taylor-Johnson and obtained a court order for real-time location pings. On Sept. 6, that led detectives to an Auburn apartment where they observed Taylor-Johnson exiting an apartment and engaging in an unrelated shooting, according to court documents.

Auburn Police arrested Taylor-Johnson for investigation of the shooting.

The cellphone information led detectives to place the phone in the area of the Aug. 28 Kent and Seattle shootings.

Taylor-Johnson agreed to talk to detectives. He said he fired shots at the Seattle apartment after the two men approached him. He denied firing shots inside the Kent apartment. He said he was at the apartment but that a friend fired the shots.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, King County
Prolific tagger faces charges for damage to Kent water tower

Man one of dozens who reportedly tagged properties across King County, including West Hill tower

t
Federal Way man charged in Kent I-5 crash that killed passenger

Documents state that evidence reportedly showed he was the driver, but he blamed the passenger.

The Kent Police Department went all out with their “Moana” themed display - even Maui showed up. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Battle of the Badges | Photos

The 2024 Battle of the Badges took over the Renton Technical College on Dec. 14.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
City of Kent crime numbers drop in 2024 compared to 2023

Vehicle thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies see big decreases

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District says it ‘will do better next time’ with school closures

Late notifications issued about closures after Dec. 18 windstorm

t
Kent Police arrest pair for downtown robbery of pedestrian

Reportedly used pepper spray to attack Kent man, 56, as he walked on sidewalk Dec. 16

Meeker Middle School, one of six schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Kent School District due to power outages from a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Windstorm causes closure of six Kent schools due to power outages

Four elementary, two middle schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18; couple of city roads closed

Volunteers wrap gifts during the 2023 Toys for Joy program. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Puget Sound Fire puts out plea for more Toys for Joy donations

Toys needed for children ages 9 to 12; more bikes, scooters requested; deadline is Dec. 20

t
Kent man, 19, faces multiple charges after pursuit near Wenatchee

Driver reportedly fails to stop for state trooper, crashes stolen vehicle along State Route 97

Kent School District Board Director Awale Farah, left, and Superintendent Israel Vela at a high school graduation last summer. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Awale Farah resigns immediately from Kent School Board

Says because of ‘family commitments’ he cannot fulfill rest of his term that expires in November 2025

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation

Northwood Middle School, 17007 SE 184th St., in unincorporated part of King County in Renton and part of the Kent School District. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Calls about man trying to access Northwood Middle School causes lockdown

Deputies arrest man for investigation of resisting arrest, obstruction at Kent School District property