Charge: Man with Gun Demands Victim Apologize to Black People

A 35-year-old homeless black man is being held on $500,000 bail after he pointed a gun at a white man’s face and demanded he apologize for all the things white people did to black people, according to charges filed with King County Superior Court.

Chikwanha Eastling Nyashanu has been charged with assault and malicious harassment for the Aug. 11 incident near the basketball courts at Green Lake Community Center.

According to probable cause documents, Nyashanu walked up to the victim around 9:15 p.m., pointed a gun at his face and demanded the apology.

The victim later told officers he was scared out of his mind and offered Nyashanu his wallet. According to the documents, Nyashanu said he didn’t want the wallet, just an apology.

According to the documents, the victim apologized profusely to Nyashanu, who pulled the gun away from the victim’s head and walked away.

Officers found Nyashanu nearby and tazed him after he refused orders to get on the ground, according to probable cause documents. Officers reportedly found his gun loaded and additional ammo in his backpack.

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The victim told officers he believes he was targeted because he was the only white person walking in the area, and Nyashanu would have demanded an apology from someone else if he hadn’t been there.

Regardless, the victim told officers he doesn’t think the crime was racially motivated. But, officers could find no other evidence for the attack and believe the victim was threatened based on his perceived race and color.

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Three to four other men told officers Nyashanu pointed a gun at them near the Green Lake Community Center, and the Seattle Police Department is investigating those allegations.