23 Replies to "Guilty plea in White Center murder of Sweetheart Failautusi"

• WSMom February 17, 2012 (12:18 pm)

  This is from the White Center Now comments from August 19th. I found what “God is Love” had to say thought provoking and profound. I thought I would share..

  GOD IS LOVE Says:
  August 19th, 2011 at 8:47 am
  This has been a horrible tragedie. I met Sweetheart in Middle school about half of my life ago (11-12yrsago). Always was very loving, was a tough girl yet growing up in WestSeattle with violence drugs and ahlchol, you needed to know how to defend your self,she never had a problem with that yet was never the bully type a true Sweetheart. Always was the one to put everyone before her, family/friends. She knew fake from real with in a heartbeat. Anthony(the shooter)used to be a handsom young man when I met him back 7yrs ago then began to fall heavily in drugs and hanging with the wrong(gangbangin)we all know that becoming a part of a group of a bunch of lost angry ppl will never bring you anygood. Anthonys mother (with Anthony being only son and sister) tried to help him with his major drug addiction with pcp this went on for many years. got no wher continued and the same lost friends didnt end. See this was all a horrible thing that came from the devils ways. Alchohol drugs and anger. we never know when we will be at the wrong place at the wrong time. poor Sweetheart was always in bars and lost anthony wrapped around the devils finger. we do need to clean up White Cntr. Ex: “Evo” aka Evolution night club before was named Tropicana, owned by lawers, a all age club, run away teens from the ages of 12and up all on mariguana ecsatasy and alchohol, young girls on poles and the tables having booty shaking contest some girls without no underclothes/or very little up their giving a free show with dirty old men from 30s and late 40′s with hoodlums applauing. just a sick dirty place. fights always breaking out either inside or outside, police on the watch yet didnt do much. those bars mentionded above have got to go! their has to be more community orriented services the salvation army is near by yet those young teen groups cought stomping and jumping other young girls. their has to be some one something helping and giving guidence its one thing having these communities with recreations yet what difference are these recreations what are they providing. we need to treat these young kids as they have no guidence cause the majority dont their own mamas and daddys in and out of jail learning how to survive off the streets wont make this a neigborhood you want your children grwng up in. its trully sad, sad how many ppl are empty how many ppl dnt knw the Lord dnt have peace or hope with in no strenghth to believe that better is out their. i always see drug exchanges in daylight and men leaving the stores with no light or expression yet with alcohol in thier hand. their is no guidence coming from this neigborhood. Victory Outreach does a great job for the most part yet not enough ppl in the world hear church or God and emmediatly want to turn afraid of change of better. Sweetheart was a true love last time i seen her she gave me a huge hug attention and love treated me like fam~ your family and you will always be in heart it hurts so much to think you are gone. you will be in a better place now watching down on us singing and smiling you are a good woman many will always have a strong love for you and you will always be missed yet will always be in our hearts. i just think its sad what Anthony how low he has allowed him self to go he is not even mentally stable been that way for the past few years due to that heavy addiction of pcp anger was raging all threw him. here we have the outcome of drugs Alchohol and Anger. Hopefully this will help alot of ppl have a self check on reality my ppl if you have kids even if not and you are finding your self needing to go to the bar or alchohol or drinks i believe its because their is a void you are trying to fufill- love happiness peace, believe me the bar and drugs will not cure that! seek the Lord~ Immagine if Anthony didnt get played by the enemy getting hooked on pcp hanging around lost empty ppl with no direction, his mother would still have her son, if he would have had the Lord and put him first he would have been making her happy showing he is responsible and have love in his heart coming home saying i love you ma with peace with in. If it wasnt for alchohol playing a large part in our now Angel in Heaven Sweathearts life and had a close relationship with Our Father she would have been at home relaxing not feeling like she needed to be out drinking. if drugs and alchohol would have not been a role of this we would still have two wonderful ppl. God bless you sis! you can rest now. Anthony i have strong prayers for you that you may allow this to be a reality check, you are lost bro, you need serious help! what you did no one has the right to do! i knw your 2friends are scared but hopefully they can see what a huge mistake they have caused with their actions. to bring a gun to a fist fight makes you a coward! hello these are ladies! if it angered you that maybe Sweetheart mangled you Anthony hopefully that will teach men to have more respect for woman. look i was sooo spiritually lost yet if i would have not gotten forgiven my sins and soften my heart had a reality check on my own ego only God knows where i would be no one is perfect! Sweetheart should have never left this way! hope this is a reality check for alot of ppl! God bless and God is Love~

• Tim February 17, 2012 (1:00 pm)

  Someone admitting to murder getting only 15 years? Repulsive. He deserves life, especially when there are innocent people out there that get the death penalty. Our system is ridiculous.

• JLL February 17, 2012 (3:27 pm)

  I agree with Tim…especially when you shot someone in the head over a cigarette! And if he hadn’t plead guilty he could have possibly even gotten a lower sentence! Frightening, so sad.

• old timer February 17, 2012 (4:55 pm)

  What crap.
  The bureaucrats, they sure are not prosecutors, get
  a good salary, benefits, and a pension – for this?
  Kill = 15 years?
  This system is broken.

• MyEye February 17, 2012 (7:30 pm)

  Scott O’Toole has said that it is policy of the prosecutors office they will allow a minimal sentence to avoid having to go to trial. Otherwise known as their job.

  The multiple offender 2 time murderer in the Thipp case received an even lower sentence if you can believe it. I was very disappointed to see Mr. O’Toole on the Cid Chambers case as well.

• WS guy February 17, 2012 (8:11 pm)

  I was driving to the airport and saw her body laying there in the middle of the street that morning and was seriously sick to my stomach. Now that same feeling is back. Disgusted with our judicial system right now.

• DBP February 18, 2012 (7:40 am)

  We never did learn what motivated the killer, did we? It probably wasn’t a mere cigarette, so I’m guessing it was gang related. (Tracy, do you know?) Anyway, the murder was clearly premeditated, since the murderer came back to Sweetheart again and again at the bus stop and threatened her repeatedly. Then he used a gun to kill her.
  .
  I thought Washington state was trying to get tough on gun crime. So why is this guy getting off with only 15 years? I’d say the prosecutor got us a pretty poor deal on this one. I betcha if the state had threatened to go forward with a trial, the killer would’ve caved and taken the longer sentence he deserved.

  • WSB February 18, 2012 (8:55 am)

    The charging documents’ narrative was fairly short, at least at the time charges were filed. I’ll have to revisit the files and see if anything more was ever alleged:
    .
    http://whitecenternow.com/2011/08/18/white-center-murder-suspects-bail-set-at-1-million
    .
    One thing I did want to say in response to some other comments … While the justice system of course has a huge role such as what charge is filed (this was a second-degree murder case) and the penalty, judges and prosecutors work within the sentencing guidelines set by legislators. They are the ones who would have to change the law for tougher penalties (or more lenient, for that matter) regarding any particular crime. – TR

• Mike February 18, 2012 (1:24 pm)

  Pathetic, this guy is not a first time offender. For murder, yes, for other crimes like drugs and theft, not even close. Look him up. Also, the prior article in the P.I. says “He faces 16 to 24 ½ years in prison if convicted as charged.”
  http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2011/08/19/prosecutors-chance-argument-led-to-white-center-slaying/
  .
  Why’d he get off so easy? What about his friends that were there with him? Are they being charged? Our system is seriously flawed. 15 years for cold blooded murder. He left, came back, and then shot her in the ‘back’ of the head. Really? Now he’s going to get free cable TV, free meals, healthcare, and more. He needs to be sent to a Mexican prison and rot in the heat.

• Debbie February 21, 2012 (1:10 am)

  I understand that ppl are pissed off about Anthony’s plea, but you know this guy had no violence on his record no gun charges. He had multiple driving on a suspended and drugs, no one knows what really happened but the ones involved. You guys don’t know him I do and there is a lot more to this. I feel for the victim god rest her soul but her back ground isn’t angelic, she has 2 brothers in prison for murder and one in there doing 50 years! Really? One bro was 15 and he was dared to shoot someone and walked up to a couple on Alki and shot them point blank killed the woman! Anthony comes from a loving family, you don’t know him don’t judge! Only god does!!!!

• Dmz February 21, 2012 (3:23 am)

  I would like to talk to the reporter on this story, contact me! I can answer some questions for you, something’s really need to come out seriously!!

  • WSB February 21, 2012 (3:54 am)

    That’s me, reachable by e-mail at editor@westseattleblog.com – Tracy (WSB editor)

• bridge to somewhere February 21, 2012 (9:07 am)

  Debbie: we are not defined by what our brothers do, in case you are confused. Mr. Smith certainly deserved at least the prison sentence he got here on earth, and if there is a God, he certainly deserves his eternal damnation for taking another human life.

• Dmz February 21, 2012 (11:42 am)

  I do agree wholeheartedly I am so so sorry for the loss of sweetheart, she did not deserve to enter gods kingdom the way she did. I know that she was not meant to be shot, it is such a tragedy but anytime there is a weapon drawn the likely hood of the outcome is tragic, and usually come with many tears. I am just tired the way they have displayed this young man in the media, he is not a monster and had his battle with demons but was a good man who got caught up in some b.s. and he will have to think of the life of the one that was takin for the rest of his life! Where the hell are the other two? Why are they not being charged with Anthony? No honestly I am not confused I just know facts. And as I said prior ONLY GOD CAN AND WILL JUDGE!!!

• bridge to somewhere February 21, 2012 (12:51 pm)

  Curious then DMZ that you point out “ONLY GOD CAN AND WILL JUDGE!!!” [sic], yet previously you are pretty quick to judge the victim when you say “her back ground isn’t angelic.” How ironic, and how easy it is for you to judge a dead girl while defending the pathetic piece of work who killed her.
  .
  Wake up. Mr. Smith is a monster, even if he wasn’t always so. It takes a pretty damn lowly dude to shoot a WOMAN in the BACK OF THE HEAD.

• bridge to somewhere February 21, 2012 (1:11 pm)

  From the PI: “According to charging documents, one of the other men approached Failautusi and shook her hand. As he did, Smith allegedly charged forward, pulled a pistol and began yelling at Failautusi.
  .
  ‘What (expletive)’ he said, according to court papers. ‘I told you I was coming back.’
  As Failautusi and her friends were backing away, Smith fired on the women, Do told the court. Failautusi was shot in the back of the head and died at the scene.”
  .
  What a class act. You defend this guy DMZ? Tough guy who shoots a woman in the head as she was backing away? Wake up. You are living in fantasy land if you think he is “a good man who got caught up in some b.s.” Calling the murder of a woman simply a result of being “caught up in some b.s.” is desperately naive. ANTHONY SMITH is a murderer. Just like all other murderers and hoods. They *all* got mixed up in “some b.s.” They all have excuses. And they are all worthless, and unfortunately, they spend their time ruining other people’s lives.

• Dmz February 21, 2012 (2:28 pm)

  I do and I will because it bull there were 4 all together and one of them wasn’t even sure if he was the shooter, I wasn’t there but I know more than the PI that’s for sure, he didn’t walk up to her and shoot her in the head whoever and I do mean whoever shot that gun shot randomly, ppl are going to say what they want and think what they want but the media always hyped stories up. Maybe I am prejudice becuz I know him and his family and that young man is not a monster! They need to check the one throwing up the signs in the video. I don’t see Anthony with a weapon and I know there was no evidence or DNA found at his residence, if he walked up to her and shot her where is the DNA it would be splattered all over him and where is the gun residu? You all can think what you want. I am not saying he didn’t shoot but I sure in the hell know he wouldn’t just cold bloodily kill!
  !

• bridge to somewhere February 21, 2012 (3:10 pm)

  DMZ: the decent people of the world don’t understand the distinction between someone who would randomly shoot at two women who are fleeing and someone who would kill in cold blood. I think you’re splitting hairs.

• robert February 21, 2012 (10:02 pm)

  our just us system is still the same shoot a politican or a public servant and get life without parole. shoot a civilian and get a slap on the wrist.

• Freeanthony February 21, 2012 (11:04 pm)

  Always on Anthonys side!

• bridge to somewhere February 22, 2012 (9:33 am)

  Got it. So if someone is out in White Center at 12:30am, they are up to no good and therefore Anthony is a good man for shooting them. You act as if this person deserved to get shot by Anthony. You have to realize that is a totally awful argument. But I can see I won’t change your mind. Just trust me: blaming the murder victim for being out too late and not getting on a bus sounds pretty dumb to the regular folks of West Seattle and White Center. Anthony plead GUILTY to murdering someone. You actually don’t even argue that he didn’t–you simply blame the [woman] victim for being around to receive the bullet Anthony fired at her head. Wake up and accept the fact that Anthony–though perhaps he’s perfectly nice to family and friends–killed someone, admitted it, and regardless of this young woman’s past, she didn’t deserve to get shot in the head over a cigarette.

• bridge to somewhere February 22, 2012 (10:02 am)

  By the way, you say, “Yea he has a rap sheet…..FOR DRIVING on a suspended license and more than 5 DUIs not to mention possession! There is no serious stuff on his record. . .” Ummm, well, 5 DUIs sounds like an EXTREMELY irresponsible person who put many people in danger each and every one of those 5 times. 5 DUIs is very serious; actually, 1 DUI is serious. Again, to the good people of West Seattle and White Center, this is not normal, safe, or reasonable behavior. This is *criminal* behavior.
  .
  On a related note, it is not surprising to me to see folks like Anthony end up in jail considering the folks who surround him are so quick to blame others for their crimes (i.e., the woman who was out too late) or minimize their previous crimes (i.e., 5 DUIs isn’t serious). If you have children, PLEASE set higher standards for your kids and yourself. It isn’t normal to get arrested. It really isn’t. That should be a wake-up call each and every time it happens. Realize that making excuses for when it occurs enables the bad behavior. Criminals don’t need to be protected–they need to learn lessons early on so they don’t wind up on the street one night and shoot a woman in the back of the head.

• WSB February 22, 2012 (12:47 pm)

  To the would-be commenters who suggested the victim deserved it – we don’t allow victim-blaming here, though I’m sure you can find someplace else for it, since a few other news organizations picked up the plea bargain story Tuesday after the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office finally published a news release about it (we got it when it happened, Friday, through good old-fashioned reporting – following up week in and week out, day in and day out), and we’re sure at least one of those organizations don’t bother to enforce commenting rules for some level of decency. I have deleted a comment that was in queue as well as one that shouldn’t have been published in the first place, as I note it included not only victim-blaming, but also racism. Comments here are now closed. – TR

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