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A 29-year-old Kent man received a prison sentence of three years and eight months for running over and killing a smoke shop clerk with a Jeep in September 2025 after the clerk tried to stop him from stealing a can of soda.
Jahmari Jaali Simpson pleaded guilty in August to second-degree manslaughter and second-degree robbery, according to King County Superior Court documents. King County prosecutors originally charged Simpson with second-degree murder, but lowered the charge in exchange for a guilty plea. Judge Nikole Hecklinger also sentenced Simpson Nov. 6 at a Maleng Regional Justice Center courtroom in Kent to 18 months community custody after his release.
Si Bog Lee, 58, of Covington, died of a blunt force head injury, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, which ruled the death a homicide. Lee died Sept. 22, 2025 from his injuries at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, six days after the Sept. 16 incident at the E-Z Smoke and More shop, 26022 Pacific Highway S.
Defense attorney Carlos Gonzales asked for a three-year sentence for Simpson in his presentence report.
“Mr. Simpson pleaded guilty, accepting full responsibility for his actions,” Gonzales wrote. “By waiving his right to trial, he also spared the State the expense of a trial. While Mr. Simpson has criminal history, he only has one adult felony conviction and one juvenile felony conviction; his most recent conviction was in 2023. Before his arrest in this case, he lived at Transitional Resources in Burien, where he participated in a mental health treatment program from Jan. 25, 2024, through Aug. 27, 2025.”
Simpson initially pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self-defense.
“During the past year, he came to recognize that his actions caused Mr. Lee’s death and that different choices could have prevented that loss of life,” Gonzales wrote. “Since then, I have observed a positive change as he has focused on self improvement.”
Prosecutors accused Simpson of “purposely running down a store clerk in front of the store,” according to charging documents filed Sept. 26, 2025 by Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Aubony Burns.
“Prior to the deadly assault, the defendant had been involved in an altercation with the store clerk,” Burns wrote. “The clerk chased him out of the store after the defendant shoplifted a soda can. The defendant could have backed his car up, could have turned away, and chose instead to drive into and over the victim.”
Burns wrote that Simpson didn’t stop to see if Lee was OK, did not render aid and did not call for help.
According to charging documents, Simpson first entered the store at about 7:39 p.m. Sept. 16, 2025 and asked Lee for a pack of cigarettes or rolling papers that Lee placed on the cash register. Simpson then walked to the back of the store and returned with a can of Canada Dry soda, placed it on the counter and began to count his money.
Simpson placed three $1 bills on the counter and then exited the store without any items, according to charging papers. He returned to the counter shortly after and moved the soda can aside as if to suggest he was not going to pay for it. He placed another $1 bill on the counter.
Lee took the $4, completed the transaction and gave Simpson his change and the small pack of cigarettes or rolling papers. Simpson quickly grabbed the soda can at the same time Lee reached for it. Simpson exited the store and Lee followed him to retain the soda which had not been paid for.
