WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:04.240 Sword and Scale contains adult themes and violence, and is not. 2 00:00:04.120 --> 00:00:05.679 Intended for all audiences. 3 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:08.519 Listener discretion is advised. 4 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:16.960 My arms always up almost litterly. 5 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:40.240 Bellevue, Washington is a clean suburb just outside Seattle, where 6 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:45.280 tech wealth keeps the housing costs high and the lawns 7 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:49.159 neatly trimmed. This is how I like them. It's a 8 00:00:49.159 --> 00:00:54.840 family oriented town, filled with gorgeous parks and trails, a 9 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:59.560 place of true Pacific Northwest tranquility. But on the morning 10 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:05.920 of light tenth, twenty twenty, that tranquility was broken. As 11 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:08.959 the sun shone over the neat hedges and parked cars. 12 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:14.560 Gunshots rang out in an apartment parking lot. There was 13 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:17.719 a man down, gasping for air. 14 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:22.680 We just turned sego gunshots and we came screaming right there. 15 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:24.159 It sounds like it's right outside. 16 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:29.280 I lived in any residence in Lakemont behind the apartments. 17 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:30.599 About five or six shots. 18 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:34.959 It sounded like a a light. Helder Ribbon, I think 19 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:38.959 I just turned seven gunshots. Someone screaming outside helped. 20 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:42.840 It sounds like it's out a building sixteen and we 21 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:45.280 can hear the screaming. 22 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:49.959 I'm just d seven shots and it looks like somebody 23 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:52.719 has been shot, I mean the overlook at this month. 24 00:01:53.719 --> 00:01:57.120 The calls were all coming from the same complex. Neighbors 25 00:01:57.200 --> 00:02:01.560 peered through blinds, clutching their phones, straining to make sense 26 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:05.599 of it all by the sound alone, then, amidst the 27 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:09.680 beeping dispatch board, the most crucial nine when one call 28 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:11.199 finally got through. 29 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:12.400 Okay, is this so. 30 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:13.520 Overlake at Lakeland? 31 00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:14.919 Yes? 32 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:16.360 Okay? And what's going on there? 33 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:17.080 Uh? 34 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:19.400 My husband's that shot? Okay? 35 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:20.280 It's your husband? 36 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.000 Yeah. 37 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:25.159 The woman on the phone was d D Foe Moon. 38 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:29.360 Her husband, forty eight year old Baron Lee, was the 39 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:31.479 one bleeding out on the pavement. 40 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:34.039 And is it possible for me to speak to him? 41 00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:35.240 Is he away? 42 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:35.599 Yes? 43 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:35.879 Once? 44 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:41.280 Okay, reluctantly did passed the phones. Who her bloody husband 45 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:44.599 as other neighbors rushed over to help Hi? 46 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:50.080 And where he shot her? 47 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:52.759 Can you hear me? 48 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:56.639 More than three moments? 49 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:02.759 Are okay? Need? Okay? I hardy cure my arms? 50 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.840 A literally my shirt? 51 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:09.919 Okay, sir, okay? 52 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:13.240 Where is the gun? The gun? 53 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:14.080 With the gun? 54 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:15.280 It's fun here. 55 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:16.280 Hurry can you. 56 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:17.759 Hit a hurry? 57 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:21.560 I can't hit the. 58 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:23.719 Deed. 59 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:26.159 He took the phone back after Baron dropped it on 60 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:30.840 the ground in agony because yes hi hi, hi, yes, okay? 61 00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:36.479 Who shot him? Okay? So the person is no longer there, 62 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:45.199 no o in there, ma'am. 63 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:47.280 I need you to get a clean where I crossed 64 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:53.400 in a plye pressure over the wound. Okay, well boon them, okay. 65 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:55.199 I need you to get some clear I lost in 66 00:03:55.240 --> 00:03:57.360 a prie pressure okay. 67 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:01.240 Even in the harsh unforgiving some light. It took a 68 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:06.199 moment to realize Baron's black shirt was drenched. Three shots 69 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:10.360 had torn through his chest. Did he fought to stay calm? 70 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:14.800 Her hands trembled as she tried to help. Then out 71 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:18.360 of nowhere, a female neighbor appeared, clutching a first aid 72 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:20.000 kit and reaching for the phone. 73 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:24.959 Hi, I knew hi bet Hello? 74 00:04:24.839 --> 00:04:27.040 Oh here, yes, hello? 75 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:30.199 Can you hear me? Yes? I can hear you. Okay, 76 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:33.040 So I don't want to find pressure right now. Yes, 77 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:33.959 my name is CHRISA. 78 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:36.120 I mus find pressure to the chest room. 79 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.360 Okay. Did you see which way that person white you 80 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:41.279 said he left on foot? Did you see which. 81 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:46.199 Way it was? Okay? 82 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:48.199 So where's. 83 00:04:49.720 --> 00:04:50.079 I hear? 84 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:53.399 I hear okay? And is it just his chester is 85 00:04:53.439 --> 00:05:01.920 but also his arm arm okay, we have it's okay, 86 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:05.920 I'm okay. 87 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:08.439 I want to verify with the one person or multiple ye. 88 00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:10.720 Okay. 89 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:15.319 Finally the chaos cracked open with a wall of sirens. 90 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:20.000 The crowd parted as police cars tore into the complex. 91 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:23.759 No one knew yet if the gunman was a man 92 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:28.480 or a woman. All anyone could say was this. The 93 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:32.560 assailant and the green hoodie vanished under the bridge towards 94 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:34.759 the shopping center across the road. 95 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:37.279 What is the person still there with? 96 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:38.959 Did you just hear this? 97 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:40.680 Yeah? 98 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:42.160 So I just heard this, and I looked up my 99 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:45.519 back window and I watched someone run away, the person 100 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:47.920 that shopped them. They had a great hoodie with their 101 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:51.480 heard up green kitchen gloves and they pissed up their 102 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:52.519 shell case students as. 103 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:53.079 They ran off. 104 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:56.519 As the caller walked outside to see if he could help, 105 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.560 he noticed a clue abandoned on the pavement and. 106 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:04.959 They had picking up their Then he's out there, he 107 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:05.360 picked up. 108 00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:10.920 The shooter had chosen to attack Baron at eight thirty am, 109 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:13.639 just as he was heading out to his car to 110 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:18.040 go to work. Baron hadn't been robbed. His car was 111 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:21.680 left with the keys right beside it, and his wallet 112 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:27.120 was on his person. This was a personal attack. The 113 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:31.879 gunman had targeted Baron, stalked him, and chosen the perfect 114 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:36.279 time to strike. But who could harbor such a deep 115 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:40.439 grudge against Baron Lee? A middle aged car salesman with 116 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:45.199 a wife three kids in a quiet, uneventful life. Baron 117 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:48.480 and his wife Didi had blended their families and had 118 00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:52.079 been together for years. They had two teenage kids from 119 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:56.000 Dede's first marriage and one son from Baron's first marriage. 120 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:00.800 As Baron lay in surgery fighting for his life, police 121 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:05.800 started piecing together the few clues left behind. The good 122 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:10.199 thing was that witnesses were everywhere. This was a large 123 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:13.920 apartment complex, and people all looked outside when they heard 124 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:15.160 the gun going off. 125 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:17.720 So I just walked out to the window in my 126 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:22.279 master bedroom and I saw an individual sprinting down the 127 00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:24.000 stairs toward the street. 128 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:28.759 Okay, And then did he go to the building across 129 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:30.600 the parking lot from you, or the carports or where? 130 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:31.079 Did he go? 131 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:33.079 Right along the carports down the stairs? 132 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:35.480 Okay, so right between the building and the car ports. 133 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:37.759 Yeah, But I heard the footsteps on the concrete as 134 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:39.600 I was walking to the window, and then I saw 135 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:42.040 the individual jump up on the curb there and then 136 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:43.000 run down the stairs. 137 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:47.079 Okay. Using canines, the police tracked the scent of the 138 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:51.839 shooter all across the complex, under a bridge, and into 139 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:56.240 the parking lot across the street. But then the dogs stopped. 140 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:01.600 This indicated that whoever did this got into a and fled. 141 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:04.240 The suspect was at large. 142 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:06.480 What kind of stature did that person have? 143 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:10.480 It looks slim, bill, That's why I thought at first 144 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:12.199 it might have been fireworks, because it looked like it 145 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:17.439 could have been a kid almost probably five four or 146 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:18.079 five six. 147 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:18.800 Somewhere that range. 148 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:21.720 It's hard to tell looking down, but definitely not taller 149 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:24.480 than me based off of running next to the car, 150 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:28.759 real quickly, gray hoodie fully over it. Could not see 151 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:32.519 skin color, long pants on. I can't remember if they 152 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:35.879 were bluer, right. It's weird how some things you remember 153 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:38.039 so vividly and other things are just a blur. Yeah, 154 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:41.480 and then holding something. I thought it would look like 155 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:45.480 a bag in the right hands, like a football as 156 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:47.720 the person was running down. Okay, and like I said, 157 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:50.559 I couldn't see skin color anything else. Okay, so no 158 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:54.559 skin color? Can you tell gender? It was either a 159 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:56.960 teenage boy most likely, or could have been a woman. 160 00:08:57.879 --> 00:08:59.559 If you were to think about things that have happened 161 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:02.120 in the last twenty four hours forty eight hours over 162 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:05.799 the last week, do any incidents or concerns send out 163 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:08.480 in your mind in this complex here that would have 164 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:10.120 resulted in a situation like that. 165 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:10.720 No. 166 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:14.879 I mean, as far as I know the family, wonderful family. 167 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:20.399 I think they have a special needs kid and they've 168 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:22.720 never done anything but smile and be polite, along with 169 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:23.799 everybody else in the area. 170 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:26.279 So it just was a complete shock. 171 00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:31.720 It was a complete shock. Baron Lee was a kind 172 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:35.519 hearted car salesman. We smiled at every person he met. 173 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:39.120 Now he was at Harbor View Medical Center full of 174 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:43.879 bullet holes. Baron had been shot nine times all over 175 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:48.039 his body, from his legs to his arms and chest. 176 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:52.159 At Harbor View Medical Center, surgeons worked fast, pulling bullets, 177 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:56.200 tying off limbs, fighting to keep him from slipping away. 178 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:59.840 The cops were already writing it up as a homicide. 179 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:05.480 Inside the o R, no one gave up. After hours 180 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:11.240 of surgery, Baron opened his eyes. He didn't just live, 181 00:10:12.279 --> 00:10:14.159 he remembered everything. 182 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:18.679 Hi, my name is Baron Lee. Originally from Hawaii and 183 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:21.240 now reside here in Istaklau, Washington. 184 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:26.720 Baron's survival was a miracle. There was no way he 185 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:29.120 should have lived, but he did. 186 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:33.639 Total nine shots, I took two to the arm, to 187 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:37.480 the right arm, to the left leg, I believe, one 188 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:42.120 on the one on the right leg, two on the 189 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:44.960 left arm, one in the chest, and one in my hip. 190 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:45.600 I believe. 191 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:50.519 Baron said that the morning was like every other except 192 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:54.279 that his step children were in Florida visiting their grandparents, 193 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:58.360 so it was just his wife, Didi, and his son Eric. 194 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:03.200 Baron his wife and child goodbye, then headed down the 195 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:04.559 stairs towards his car. 196 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:08.240 And I come out of the house and I'm probably 197 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:12.480 about twenty five thirty feet from my car and I 198 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:15.679 just unlocked it with my fob and I hear pop. 199 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:19.480 So this is July tenth, twenty twenty. So I'm thinking, oh, 200 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:22.679 someone's still firing fireworks. Right, So I looked to my left, 201 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:25.360 I didn't see anything. As soon as I look to 202 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:28.360 my right, the second shot goes off, and that's the 203 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:31.360 one that hits my right arm and shatters my right 204 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:34.039 arm completely, ends up dropping my keys and my fob, 205 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:38.519 and I see this person with green gloves and a mask, 206 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:41.840 aiming a revolver, I mean, just shooting at me. 207 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:46.399 Baron's first instinct was to use his car as a shield, 208 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.360 so he moved as quickly as he could while the 209 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:50.600 rounds kept coming. 210 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:54.519 So I run to the car. He's still firing at me. 211 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:56.799 As I open my car door with my left hand, 212 00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:59.399 I take a shot into the back of my leg, 213 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:01.120 and then another shot in the back of my leg, 214 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:03.639 and I end up falling to the ground. I end 215 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:06.600 up pulling myself behind the car door while the person's 216 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:09.960 firing at my car, lilding it with bullets. And then 217 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:13.879 a few seconds later, it seems like instantaneously that person 218 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:16.879 standing over me. He comes around to the car door 219 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:20.120 and he's standing over me. First shot goes right through 220 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:23.799 my chest and out, and I'm thinking, oh shit, I'm 221 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:25.600 going to die, Like what am I going to do? 222 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:30.600 That's when it all hit him, the reality of what 223 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:34.480 was happening, But nothing compared to the pain. 224 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:39.480 It's like, initially it feels like you're getting punched and 225 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:44.320 pierced at the same time, so like you feel that 226 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:48.639 searing pain that goes through from the bullet, but the 227 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:51.679 impact feels like someone just punched the crap on it, 228 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.039 you know. 229 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:55.600 It's like that's when Baron made a quick decision that 230 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:56.919 probably saved his life. 231 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:00.919 So I decide, I'm going to throw my head and 232 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:04.080 body under the wheelwell of my steering wheel. The steering 233 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:06.720 will call them and protect at least that part. So 234 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:09.320 if they're gonna shoot me, they got to shoot my 235 00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:13.360 body or my legs or whatever, and not any fatal parts, hopefully, right. 236 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:18.279 So I dive in and he unloads the rest about 237 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:20.879 I think six more shots on the left side and 238 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:26.279 then runs out of ammunition. I see him bend down 239 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:29.559 pick up some shellcasings, and then I hear him run off. 240 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:35.000 That's when neighbors arrived and started tending the baron. He 241 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:37.399 screamed for them to get his wife, afraid he was 242 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:40.720 going to die right then and there, right in that 243 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:41.759 parking lot. 244 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:44.399 They do that. She comes out. My wife's like, oh, 245 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:47.279 you'll be okay, you'll make it. You're strong, don't worry 246 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:50.440 about it. And I remember having a full blown conversation 247 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:53.360 where they're asking her to to take care of the 248 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:55.679 kids that I love them. 249 00:13:55.840 --> 00:14:00.879 When officers arrive, they tied tourniquets on Baron's limbs. He 250 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:06.159 was losing his vision. The pain was overwhelming as they 251 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:08.240 lifted him into the stretcher. 252 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:12.279 As the adroning start wearing off. And I'm taking a breath. 253 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:16.159 What's going through my head? Every time I'm breathing? Is 254 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:18.480 this my last breath? You know? I felt like I'm 255 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:20.679 dying right, Like I was in so much pain, and 256 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:23.360 I was like, oh my god, am I going to 257 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:25.720 end up? Stop breathing, you know, because I know people 258 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:29.360 get shot. You see it on TV. Right, They're slowly 259 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:32.600 fading out, And I'm thinking, oh my god, I'm going 260 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:34.600 to be you know, this is my last breath. This 261 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:36.639 is my last breath. Am I dead? Now? You know? 262 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:37.679 That type of thing. 263 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:43.080 As a strength started to fade. Baron's racing thoughts about 264 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:46.600 who would care for his family faded into something different. 265 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:51.080 The ambulance raced across town while the paramedics ripped off 266 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:55.240 Baron's clothes, desperately trying to locate all the bullet ones. 267 00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:59.200 That's when he felt himself slipping away. 268 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:03.039 And I remember I felt at ease. At one point. 269 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:07.720 I was I was imagining myself in a metal or pasture, 270 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:11.200 very calm, serene, and I was tired and I just 271 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:16.080 wanted to go to sleep, and the paramedic basically shook 272 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:18.039 me and said, hey, you got to stay awake. You 273 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:20.440 gotta stay awake, and I'm like okay, okay, And then 274 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:23.039 I remember I was like almost gone. I was like 275 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:26.240 my eyes had closed and all I felt was this 276 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:29.960 searing pain. He stuck his finger in my wound to 277 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.440 wake me up, and I was like, oh, fuck, don't 278 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:33.759 do that. I'm up. 279 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:34.120 I'm up. 280 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:36.600 I won't I won't go to sleep right And from 281 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:38.679 then on I was up until surgery. 282 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:43.120 When Baron finally woke up from surgery, he was bewildered, 283 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:47.240 but his first concern was his children. Did He assured 284 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:52.000 him that everyone was safe, and then detectives arrived. 285 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:56.240 And actually the investigation started right away. I remember Detective 286 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:59.759 Parrot and the Detective Grandness both showed up at Harbor View. 287 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:03.519 They had told me that I was under protection media. 288 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:05.919 No one was allowed into the hospital to come visit. 289 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:08.960 The only person allowed was Dede. Dedey was the only 290 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:11.480 one that was authorized to come up and see me. 291 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:16.720 The detectives wanted the obvious answers, like oh, I don't 292 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:18.679 know the hell would do this. 293 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:22.559 When they interviewed me the first time, I basically said 294 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:24.639 that it was Sharon without adult it was her. 295 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:30.039 Sharon Kelly was Baron's first wife. I know, I know 296 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:34.360 Sharon and Baron. Let's just be adults here and try 297 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:38.440 to move past it. Okay, But Baron's wife, Dede shook 298 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:43.159 her head. Sharon was Eric's mother, She would never do 299 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:48.039 something so horrible to the father of her son. Was 300 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:50.360 this just Baron's trauma talking? 301 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:53.799 And Dedey had told them, oh, no, it could be 302 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:57.639 disgruntable worker at his job. You know, he works in 303 00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:00.879 the car business. Maybe they're mad or I don't know, 304 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:04.279 maybe her ex husband sent you know, Dedie's ex husband 305 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:06.440 sent somebody. And you know, they said, there's all kinds 306 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.119 of possibilities, and in my mind there was no other possibility. 307 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:15.799 It was easy to dismiss a man shot nine times, confused, 308 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:20.559 scared and searching for answers. His divorce from Sharon had 309 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:24.079 been nasty, but now they barely talked unless it was 310 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:29.160 a drop off when they exchanged care of Eric. And 311 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:35.160 yet what if he wasn't wrong? Dede said Baron was crazy, 312 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:41.160 Sharon was not responsible. Still, the cops promised they'd look 313 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:46.400 into it. They had to, but first they chased the leads. 314 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:51.039 They did have CCTV footage from nearby businesses and traffic 315 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:56.480 lights around Baron's apartment complex, and on those tapes something 316 00:17:56.519 --> 00:18:00.000 stuck a red Ford truck idling on the other side 317 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:04.759 the bridge just after the attack. Then the shooter ran 318 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:10.400 up and climbed in. This vehicle was distinct. It was 319 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:14.960 a Ford F series single cab with diamond plate, bedcap 320 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:21.680 and tinted headlight covers. Using traffic cameras across Bellevue, police 321 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:25.279 tracked the truck. Thank goodness for twenty four to seven 322 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:29.759 government surveillance. Eh well, it worked because they got lucky. 323 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:35.359 One frame had the plate. They ran it and discovered 324 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:38.119 that the red Ford was registered to a middle aged 325 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:44.440 man named Arthur Mendez. And just like that, the case 326 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:48.839 had a new name, a new direction, and a very 327 00:18:49.319 --> 00:19:22.720 unexpected turn. In July of twenty twenty, forty eight year 328 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:25.640 old Baron Lee was on his way to work that 329 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:29.400 the car dealership when he was ambushed outside his apartment 330 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:33.680 by a stranger, shot nine times in the legs, chests, 331 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:39.759 and arms, and left for dead. But somehow Baron survived, 332 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:44.079 while detectives were stalking out a house in Mount Vernon, 333 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:47.799 tracking the red Ford pickup that helped the shooter. Vanish 334 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:54.400 Baron was facing something else entirely, a long, brutal recovery 335 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:57.640 without the use of his legs or his left arm. 336 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:01.119 The first three months I was in a wheelchair. I 337 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:03.920 couldn't walk, I couldn't do anything other than go in 338 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:07.400 a wheelchair. When I was in the hospital, they wanted, 339 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:09.319 because it was the middle of COVID, they wanted to 340 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:14.200 send me home immediately. So they basically said, every day 341 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:16.599 we're going to have you try and walk a little bit. 342 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:20.000 And since you have two steps at home, your goal 343 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:23.160 is to walk down two steps. If you can walk 344 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:26.319 down two steps, we're sending you home. So I ended 345 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:29.440 up going home in seven days. But when I was 346 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:32.000 at home, you know, obviously I wasn't walking around. 347 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:36.440 I was still in a wheelchair with Baron immobilized. DDE, 348 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:40.200 his wife, was the glue that held the family together. 349 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:43.880 D D's amazing, an amazing woman, and I owe a 350 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:47.119 lot to her, not for just a shooting, but but 351 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:50.400 she went through while I was going through rehab, was 352 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:53.720 amazing emotionally, Physically, I don't know how she did it. 353 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.400 Every day. 354 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:58.640 I had to have my wounds dressed twice a day, 355 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:01.240 so she had to go through all the bullet wounds 356 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:03.480 and take out the gauze and put in new gauze 357 00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:07.079 and you know, clean it all out every single day, 358 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:11.519 on top of taking care of Eric, feeding medications, all that, 359 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:15.960 and then taking care of Sophia and Nathan, cooking, cleaning, laundry, 360 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:21.400 all of that by herself with no help and still smiling, 361 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:27.200 still being positive, still being supportive, still encouraging, and not 362 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:29.160 asking for anything back at. 363 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:33.680 The time, because that's the thing. Not only did Dedie 364 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:37.079 have to take care of Baron and her two teenage children, 365 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:41.640 but Baron's son from his first marriage, Eric, is special needs. 366 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:48.240 Eric has dystonia and hernictorus. These are two very serious 367 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:51.640 conditions which means it will require twenty four to seven 368 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:55.839 care for the rest of his life. Dystonia is a 369 00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:59.799 developmental disorder that causes a person to have awkward posture 370 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:05.279 and move with twisted, repetitive motions. Crenicterus is a condition 371 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:09.400 developed at birth when billy rubin builds up in the 372 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:12.920 baby's brain. I think I said all those things correctly, 373 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:17.400 but I'm sure, you'll let me know anyway in the comments. Anyway, 374 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:22.920 this results in cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and hearing loss. 375 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:26.400 But the reason this all happened to Eric was not 376 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:29.799 an act of God, but instead it was due to 377 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:34.880 negligence from the medical system. When Eric was born, you see, 378 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:37.440 Sharon decided at the last minute to change from her 379 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:41.880 obgyn to a midwife at a birthing center after her 380 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:46.039 obgyn told her she had to watch her wait during pregnancy. 381 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:50.759 Guess she didn't like that. Anyway. Eric was born safely 382 00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:54.640 at the birthing center and then the new family returned home. 383 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:59.759 But after a few days, Baron noticed something was off. 384 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:03.599 After they sent us home. The very next day, the 385 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:08.240 birthing center sends a home nurse to get Eric's he'll 386 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:11.079 proc test, which is a genetic testing, and so they 387 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:14.880 come over and then they leave, and then over the 388 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:20.039 next few days, I start noticing that Eric is severely jaundice. 389 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:22.799 He looks yellow. So I call the birthing center and 390 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:26.160 tell him, hey, you know, Eric's Eric's getting yellow and 391 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:29.599 little concerned, and they're like, oh, yeah, that's normal, babies 392 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:31.960 usually are a little jaundice. Just put him in some 393 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:34.680 sunlight and he should be okay. So I did that. 394 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:38.160 Next day, he's not getting better, and so I called 395 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:40.759 him up again. They're like, oh, no, no, that's normal. 396 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:42.680 He's you know, he's the Asian. Of course he's going 397 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:44.799 to be a little yellow, you know, like that's normal. 398 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:47.599 I was like, that's that's a weird you know, it 399 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:50.519 seemed weird, but as a first time parent, I wasn't 400 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:55.000 completely sure. So it wasn't till day seven, or the 401 00:23:56.200 --> 00:24:00.400