Detectives seek help in solving murder of 37-year-old Solomon Taton in Seattle
SEATTLE - A night hanging out with friends ended in a cold-blooded murder and now Seattle homicide detectives and the family of a father of three are asking for your help to identify the killer.
Solomon Taton, 37, was found shot to death last September in a park that overlooks the I-90 floating bridge in the Mt. Baker neighborhood
Detectives say this case can be solved with just a little information from the public.
A single gunshot rang out at 3:34 a.m. on September 5, 202. There were three people on surveillance camera leaving the scene. Two of them got into a Toyota Camry.
At 6:45 a.m., a passerby discovered Taton's body in the East Portal Viewpoint Park near the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge sign.
Solomon, or "Solo" as his mother called him, was Desirae Taton's first born and a father to three.
"Solomon has three children he's left behind. One is 19, another is 12 and the youngest is 4. I do miss him so much," she said. "He was adored by those children. They miss him terribly."
She says her son was always there for his family - with charisma to spare. When he walked into a room, the energy changed.
"I'm just proud to say that he chose me to be his mom, you know, here on earth we are lucky to have him for the time that we did," she says. "His saying was always, ‘Everything you do, do on purpose.’"
Before he was shot to death, his mom says Solomon was hanging out with some friends. Detectives say surveillance showed they arrived at East Portal Viewpoint at 2:10 a.m. to enjoy the views.
Police don't know what led to the shooting less than 90 minutes later.
Retired Sgt. Jim Fuda with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound says detectives have some good leads but need eyewitnesses to cooperate.
"If this victim is your friend, how can you not help when he's murdered in front of you," he says.
If you were there that night or have any information on the murder suspect or anyone who was with Solomon, you will remain completely anonymous when you submit a tip to Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound by texting it through the the P3 Tips App that you can download to your cell phone for free. You can also submit tips at P3Tips.com or call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
You will be be paid a $1,000 cash reward if you can help Seattle Police identify the suspect.
"You might not think what you have to say is important but those detectives that have been working on this case they have a lot of it put together and your piece of information might be the one that puts the nail in the coffin of the person that did this horrendous crime," he added.
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