Suspect surrenders in deaths of 2 men in White Center

SEATTLE (AP) — A 26-year-old Auburn man has turned himself in to police after evading arrest for allegedly gunning down two men in a White Center parking lot in January.

The Seattle Times reports Merle “Chucky” Buchanan was charged Monday with two counts of murder for allegedly shooting two “relative strangers” — Paul Tapia and Jose Garcia Jr. — early Jan. 6 outside Taradise Cafe.

Court records show Buchanan was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

Records say Buchanan additionally was charged with felony violation of a domestic-violence protection order for allegedly backhanding his estranged girlfriend a couple hours before the fatal shooting.

He was booked into King County Jail Friday and is being held in lieu of $1.1 million bail.

It wasn’t clear if he had an attorney.