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09/30/2008: "A Mother’s nightmare - Brother Charged With Murder In Death Of Brother"

Jawaad Darcelle Reaves has been charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of his brother, Jermaine DeShion Reaves. Bail has been set at $100,000.00 dollars.

What happened in Friday Harbor on Sunday afternoon has became clearer after the evidence against Reaves was presented in Superior Court to Judge John Linde on Monday.

According to a statement by Detective Brent Johnson of the SJC Sheriff’s Office, the crime was witnessed by the mother of the two brothers. The mother had recently arrived in Friday Harbor and was staying with the two brothers in their apartment.

A fight broke out between the brothers following a “hated argument.”


The fight started in the living room, moved to the hallway and into Jermaine’s bedroom. At some point Jawaad was struck in the mouth by his brother, but the fight came to an end, and Jermaine returned to the living room.

The mother “heard the sound of a shotgun being loaded in Jawaad’s bedroom,’ and went in to talk to him and tried and calm him down. She found hit to be sitting on the bed with the gun. Unfortunately for all, Jermaine came to the door and began banging on it and attempted to enter the room, but the mother was blocking the door while convincing Jawaad to place the gun on the bed.

While this was going on “Jawaad told Jermaine that he would shoot Jermaine if he entered the bedroom. Jermaine responded that Jawaad would not shoot him.”

There was another door into the bedroom via a bathroom and walk-in closet. When Jermaine enter the closet, Jawaad shot his brother in the chest.

Arriving Deputies and aid personnel had responded to a domestic violence call to the apartment. When they arrived on scene they were met by Jawaad Reaves, who Sheriff Bill Cumming said " was highly agitated and upset."

The first responders “found Jermaine lying on the closet floor in his mother’s arms.”

Jermaine had taken the full blast of the 20 gauge shotgun in the chest, and was mortally wounded. He was flown by helicopter to St, Joseph’s, where he was pronounced dead

Fund-raisers to help the family pay for funeral expenses are planned, as well as a Memorial Fund that has been set up at Islander Bank in Friday Harbor.
At this time it is reported the following public events are scheduled:

Thursday -11 to 6:00 pm, potluck barbecue, location to be announced.
Friday -6:00 pm Bella Luna Restaurant
Sunday -3:00 pm; Downstairs, American Legion Post