A 19-year-old Kent man has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Vatauomalo “Tau” Leiataua, a Kent-Meridian High School student who was preparing to begin his senior year.
Kasim Kone entered the plea Aug. 17 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. He remained jailed at the King County Correctional Facility on $2 million bail. His next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31.
Leiataua was fatally shot Aug. 2 along Military Road South near South 216th Street in SeaTac. According to charging documents, Leiataua had been with Kone and several friends before leaving the vehicle to walk with Kone.
Deputies found Leiataua on the roadside with two gunshot wounds. Investigators later recovered a handgun from nearby bushes and a sweatshirt believed to belong to Kone.
Prosecutors allege Kone was under the influence of drugs when the shooting occurred. Kone told detectives he had used multiple substances that day and could not remember what happened, according to court documents.
Leiataua played running back and linebacker for the Kent-Meridian football team last season.
A family friend of the victim’s father has established a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the family with funeral expenses and other unexpected costs.
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