King County Double Murder Suspect Surrenders

SEATTLE, WA -- Merle Charles Buchanan is in custody for the nearly two-month old murder of two men in Seattle. K5 reported Buchanan, 26, turned himself into police last Friday.

Police believe Buchanan shot and killed Jose Angel Garcia, 51, and Paul Victor Tapia, 45, outside the Taradise Cafe. Buchanan is wanted on two counts of first-degree murder and an outstanding domestic violence warrant.

Police responded to the Taradise Cafe around 1 a.m. Jan. 6, and found Garcia dead at the scene. Tapia was seriously injured, but later died at the hospital.

Club Taradise, 9808 16th Ave. Southwest, has been the scene of violence before. James Little, 30, of Seattle, was shot and killed outside the club on May 7. According to witnesses, Little had tried to break up a fight inside the bar. When he went outside to talk to one of the involved women, witnesses told police, a man named Billy D. Williams allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Little in the head.

--Patch reporter Neal McNamara contributed to this report; Image courtesy King County Sheriff's Office

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