UPDATE: Roxbury shooting victim was rapper Gonzoe

(Updated Monday with official confirmation of Roxbury victim’s ID)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The man shot and killed at 28th/Roxbury Thursday night is reported to have been 45-year-old Ronald Moore, best known as the veteran rapper Gonzoe,

There is still no official confirmation of this – the King County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released the victim’s ID yet – but we have confirmed that Gonzoe lived in West Seattle.

Word of his death started circulating last night, starting with a report on the entertainment-news site VladTV (which cited WSB for details on Thursday night’s crime scene/investigation). There’s no question that Gonzoe, who came to fame in the mid-’90s as a member of the group Kausion – has died; family, friends, and fans are mourning him. But what we’ve spent hours trying to find is an open citation of who actually linked his death to the Thursday night shooting. Because so many people have called this to our attention, we’re publishing this story with what we do know, as well as what we don’t.

Though his online ID cites Los Angeles as his base, we have confirmed that Gonzoe lived in West Seattle, at least part of the time. First word came from a person who contacted us, identifying themselves as a longtime friend, saying that the rapper moved here a few years ago and has family here; this person said they’d confirmed the death circumstances by talking to a relative. Checking various types of online databases in which names and addresses can potentially be matched, we found confirmation in 2020 and 2021 records from a traffic case that he had a Morgan Junction address. Looking through Gonzoe’s Instagram posts – in which he often gave short pep talks to his followers – we found one video dated July 13th that was clearly made here in West Seattle (the beachfront scenery shows Vashon and Blake Islands).

Back to online information, his friend Boskoe 100, with whom Gonzoe founded a boxing league called Glovez Up Gunz Down, talked about the shooting in a video. He said he was told that Gonzoe was getting ready for a “late-night studio session” when he went to the Roxbury Lanes restaurant to pick up some food, got into an argument with someone, and that person followed him out and shot him.

The King County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the Thursday night shooting but hasn’t released a report on the circumstances; what we cited in our coverage comes from what we learned at the scene and via emergency-radio communication that night, as well as KCSO confirming the victim’s death Friday morning.

ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: Via King County Public Health/Medical Examiner’s Office, we have confirmed that the Roxbury shooting victim was indeed Ronald Moore/Gonzoe. His death was ruled a homicide, caused by a gunshot wound to the chest. No updates so far from KC Sheriff’s Office investigators.

(Photo: @TheRealGonzoe)

18 Replies to "UPDATE: Roxbury shooting victim was rapper Gonzoe"

  • 4 July 31, 2021 (6:16 pm)

    If it started in Roxbury Lanes, there must be video of the suspect….

    • WSB July 31, 2021 (7:25 pm)

      Deputies were canvassing for video from the surrounding businesses almost immediately, according to over-the-air exchanges we heard.

  • StopCuttingDownTrees July 31, 2021 (7:48 pm)

    For the past few days there have been obvious detectives dressed in very casual, summer attire (“dad” jeans, polo shirts, sneakers) poking and prodding around the NE Safeway parking lot, sidewalks, planter gravel, talking on cellphones, taking photos, etc. It appears they are taking this crime very seriously and working 24/7 to find Gonzoe’s killer.

  • WSPup July 31, 2021 (8:25 pm)

    What a sad waste of life. Maddening that someone chooses murder as a solution. Perhaps “tough guys” who carry guns should really learn to think before they act. Murder is final. Then two lives are lost.

  • vee July 31, 2021 (8:52 pm)

    very sadargument shouldnt end this wayhope his family is ok

  • Alki resident July 31, 2021 (9:05 pm)

    This explains why Nasty Nez posted on his page. Didn’t realize it was local. 

  • Alki resident July 31, 2021 (10:55 pm)

    After my original comment, I’m realizing who this is. We met over a year ago in line at Roxbury Safeway. He spoke of his volunteering, God, sports with his kids, etc. He was funny and very humble. He told me his rapper name. I didn’t recognize it. His kids were very nice and I’m so very sorry for their loss. God Bless his family. Find his killer.,

  • Bill July 31, 2021 (11:04 pm)

    How long does it typically take for a victim to be named when obviously family has been notified?

    • WSB July 31, 2021 (11:26 pm)

      The ME is fairly strict about name releases going out on its mid-afternoon weekday media updates. We called last night anyway and they said no new public information was expected before Monday.

  • Pigford August 1, 2021 (4:27 am)

    I’ll never understand why it became ok to solve every little problem by picking up a gun ,I wasn’t there so I can’t really say what happened but the 1 thing I’m 99% sure of is that no matter what went down it was nothing that should have been punishable by death,the younguns these days need to learn to fight & if you lose it’s not the end of the world,everyone gets a kick in the ass occasionally & sometimes it’s good for you…keeps you humble 

  • CBo August 1, 2021 (8:52 am)

    RIP to a good man. He moved up here to give his children a better, safer place to live and grow up.  He spent his time working  to help end gang violence. He survived the Death Row era of the Rap industry, and was using what he learned to help others.Prayers and love for his Family.

    • Brian Sanderson August 1, 2021 (5:17 pm)

      Condolences Bo-Loc 😢🙏and Condolences to his Family and Fans.. This is Stupid..

    • B August 1, 2021 (5:28 pm)

      Crazy, he was one of the biggest advocates of putting guns down and he dies due to Gun Violence. He did all the things you’re supposed to do if you grow up in the lifestyle he did. Move outta state to raise your kids in a different environment and break the cycle. Dude loved his kids and I think he just got full custody of his Son. SMH. I’ve always been a fan of his music and the person he matured into. So many suckas running around and a good dude gets taken. RIP Gonz and condolences to his kids and Family. 

    • Edward August 2, 2021 (1:48 pm)

      One love Cbo

  • Kimahni Duncan August 1, 2021 (11:31 am)

    R-I-P Gonzoe. Condolences to his family. I didn’t know him but I am familiar with his music. Dude been doing music for a long time. I start listening when he was rapping with my boy Yukmouth. 9 times out of 10 the murder was over something silly. Black lives matter but we don’t act like it. R-I-P Gonz

  • Michelle August 2, 2021 (11:43 am)

    Any updates on this story? So sad a man running an org against gun violence dies from gun violence. RIP and sending love to his family. 

    • WSB August 2, 2021 (5:50 pm)

      Only that we have finally officially confirmed the Roxbury shooting victim was Gonzoe (Ronald Moore). No new information about the investigation.

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