State v. Alexander

— Alexander Alexander was convicted of second-degree assault on Ronnie Barker during a shootout in front of a Tacoma tavern. Initially he had also been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of one Mayes on the theory that Alexander had fired upon Barker and in returning his fire Barker had accidentally shot and killed Mayes. Prior to trial it was determined that the bullet that killed Mayes did not come from the guns of either Alexander or Barker. The jury was unaware of both the manslaughter charge 'and its subsequent dismissal.

Alexander based his not guilty plea upon…