A worker at a Seattle beer garden was discovered shot dead when the establishment opened on Saturday morning. The co-worker allegedly responsible for the shooting turned himself in days later, claiming it was self-defense.
Kousah “Q” Margarza, 25, was found deceased inside The Growler Guys in northeast Seattle by another employee who arrived for work, according to a police report. The incident occurred after Margarza closed the bar around 1:30 a.m. and later visited a hookah lounge, then returned with a man and a woman.
Authorities state that Lucas Logan, 20, is the co-worker facing accusations of killing Margarza after spending time with this unnamed woman at a bar.
Surveillance footage revealed Margarza, Logan, and the woman entering the venue around 5:25 a.m. Margarza had a key given to him by the owner to access the locked bar. They reportedly spent about an hour drinking inside, but tensions escalated around 6:40 a.m. when an argument erupted at the front door.
One witness noted the dispute began when Margarza suggested Logan exit the bar to join him. According to investigators, the argument culminated in Margarza turning away to unlock the door, at which point Logan allegedly drew a handgun and shot Margarza multiple times in the back.
Following the shooting, both Logan and the woman exited through a partially opened door and fled in her vehicle. When colleagues arrived hours later, they found the door ajar and Margarza lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
Logan surrendered to law enforcement two days later, accompanied by his attorney, who argued that his actions were in self-defense. He claimed there was a feeling of danger, suggesting that Margarza was keeping the woman from leaving peacefully.
However, the prosecutor asserted that Margarza was not a threat when he was shot, having the key still in his hand. The judge set Logan’s bail at $2 million, citing the serious nature of the incident.
Prosecutors are reviewing the case for potential charges while noting that the woman present in the bar is cooperating with the investigation, though she was not implicated in the shooting.
