But the fact that you brought two juveniles into the picture. >> This is Baron Lee. On July 10th, 2020, someone tried to kill him. >> Pop. I thought it was a firework. Looked to the right. Second shot goes off. Shattered my arm instantly. And then he unloaded another five more shots on my left side. >> Police trace the shooter back to his ex-wife, Sharon. She'd hired a 17-year-old named Joseph. At the center of it all is their son, a little boy left disabled after a childhood accident. A boy with a trust fund. >> So this is your chance. What did Joseph tell you? Uh he just told me >> [music] >> life had never come easy for 48-year-old Washington resident Baron Lee. Raised in the foster care system, he was no stranger to adversity, and adulthood brought challenges of its own. His then six-year-old son from a prior marriage, Eric, whom he affectionately calls Dragon, had profound physical limitations. He could not move or feed himself, required extensive care, and suffered from medical complications [music] dating back to his birth. My son, Dragon, turns 12 today, [music] and 9 years ago, he almost didn't make it. At 3 years old, Dragon was placed in foster care, the same age I was when I entered the [music] systems. two kids from foster care and now we're family. [music] >> After his divorce, Baron gained full custody of Eric and threw himself into the role, managing the boy's medications, medical needs, and day-to-day [music] care, all while working in car sales to support them both. That routine was still [music] intact. On the morning of Friday, July 10th, 2020, Baron got up, went through his usual morning ritual, and headed out to the apartment complex parking lot for [music] his commute. He never made it out. As he approached his car, Baron was confronted by an unknown male in a hoodie who pulled out a handgun and immediately began firing. >> First shot through my chest and I was like, "Oh crap, what am I going to do?" I looked to the left, didn't see anything. look to the right, second shot goes off, hits my arm. I shattered my arm instant in instantly and then he unloaded another five more shots on my left side. When officers arrived, they found Baron on the ground beside the open driver's door of his Toyota. A witness was already kneeling over him, applying pressure to a chest wound. Baron had been shot nine times. Someone wanted him dead. He was still conscious, but in no condition to say who did it. Paramedics rushed him to a nearby hospital for life-saving surgery. Miraculously, the rounds missed all major arteries and organs. [music] Baron would spend months undergoing therapy and rehabilitation, and the injuries he sustained [music] that morning would stay with him for the rest of his life. Back at the scene, Belleview detectives got to work. One witness described a slim white male in his 20s or 30s wearing a gray hoodie and green kitchen gloves. A canine tracked from the scene toward Lake Mont Park, but searches of the trails and woods came up empty. So, detectives were left with a shooting, no suspect, and no clue why anyone would target Baron Lee. But one person might have the answer. Baron himself. Once he was stable enough to talk, investigators went to the hospital and asked him if he knew anyone who would want him dead. >> I said, "There's only one person, and they said, "It's my ex-wife." >> Baron explained to officers that he and his ex-wife, 30-year-old Sharon Rose Kelly, were locked in a bitter custody battle over Eric. He also happened to have a significant trust fund from a medical malpractice settlement awarded after he suffered brain damage as an infant. If that checked out, it gave police a motive. But motive isn't evidence. Around 10:15 that night, two Belleview detectives showed up at Kelly's apartment. They didn't tell her that Baron had already named her as the person he believed might want him dead. Instead, they kept the conversation deliberately vague and asked what she knew about the shooting. She provided little to no information and eventually told detectives she needed to speak with an attorney before continuing and said her lawyer would contact them. Detectives began monitoring Kelly while continuing to build the case. Surveillance footage gave detectives their first major break. A distinctive red Ford pickup had been in the area about 45 minutes before the shooting and was captured leaving Belleview shortly afterward. The truck was a 1995 [music] Ford F-150 registered to an address in Mount Vernon. Further investigation connected the truck to 17-year-old Quincy Menddees, who lived at that address. Digging into his circle of friends, detectives also identified another 17-year-old, Joseph Good, as a possible match for the shooter's description. Meanwhile, after checking Baron's car, investigators found a GPS tracker in the undercarriage, secured with black duct tape. Payment information revealed the tracker had been purchased by Kelly. But investigators found something even more interesting in the account records. On July 9th, the day before the shooting, someone connected to Joseph Good had accessed the account. For detectives, the pieces were starting to line up. Baron, [music] the truck, the teenagers, Kelly and the GPS tracker. But detectives weren't done. Over the next several weeks, they continued to follow up on leads, pull records, and track down witnesses. On October 7th, nearly 3 months after the shooting, investigators had enough to seek arrest warrants for [music] all three. At 9:31 the following morning, investigators arrested Sharon Kelly at her apartment in Mount Lake Terrace. Officers did not attempt to interrogate her as she had previously invoked her right to counsel. Quincy Menddees was arrested next at his Mount Vernon home. Then around 12:45 p.m., officers took Joseph Good into [music] custody. Both teens were told they were under arrest for assault and transported to the Mount Vernon [music] Police Department where detectives Parrot and Granis were waiting. Joseph Good, the suspected gunman, [music] was up first. started. Today is Thursday, October 8th, 2020. It is 13:25 hours. My name is Detective Granis with the Belby Police Department. I'm here with Detective Parrot and we are talking to Joseph. Joseph, you understand the room's being recorded? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And that's video as well as audio. >> Okay. So, any anyways, um I don't know. You want me to go with the chronological? >> You can you can you start. Okay. Awesome. So I don't did you catch where we were from? >> Uh >> what do you mean >> what city we work for? >> So we're in Mount Vernon right now, but >> Oh, Belle. I saw sign the tank. >> Yeah. Yeah. So we're from Belle. Um any ideas why we might be talking with you today? >> Okay. So um back in July around July 10th or so, um we had an incident in Belio [snorts] that you may or may not been familiar with. I don't know. Um there was a shooting in Belleview. Individual got shot. So um anyways, going back. So we went out and we investigated that. And during the course of our investigation, we um were came across a vehicle. I'm just wondering if you might recognize that. Actually, before I even get to that, I didn't know. Do you recognize who that is? No. >> Ever seen her before? >> How about that lady? >> Are they the same person? >> No. [laughter] >> I I don't know. I've never seen them. >> You've never seen either of those people before? >> Not that I can remember. >> Do they look like the same person? >> No. >> No. Okay. >> I don't No. >> I think the potential they are the same person at one point. >> Cuz their hair looks dyed. >> Yeah. >> Well, hair color could be changed. Yeah. So maybe it used to be that. >> Yeah, it goes back. You see the roots are darker like that. So yeah, I think it's the same person just things have changed. >> Mhm. >> Kind of like a catfish. But so but you had never seen that person before. Um so anyways, there was that individual. Well, I guess how about him? Recognize that guy? Yeah, that's my friend Quincy. >> So, you know Quincy? >> Do you hang out with Quincy ever or >> Every once in a while? >> Every once in a while. >> Yeah. >> Ever drive with Quincy to Belleville? >> Uh, I don't remember. We used to hang out a lot. >> What happened? >> I don't know. We just don't hang out a ton anymore. Every once in a while, >> every once in a while, but not as much anymore. When did you guys stop hanging out together? And we still hang out just like that a ton. >> Anything major happened that did you do something that maybe made you stop want to hang out with them? >> I don't think so. No. [sighs] >> So when uh like I said, we had that shooting in Belleville. After we went back, we uh we found this this vehicle um pulling into a gas station down in Belleview. You recognize that pickup at all? >> Kind of. Yeah, >> kind of. >> I don't know. >> You know, >> I'm not sure. [clears throat] >> You're not sure. You've never seen that pickup before? >> I know a few people who own those. >> Anybody that you know that owns a pickup like that? >> Quincy. Couple other people. So Quincy does have one like that. >> I'm not sure if it's that one, but I think so. I don't know. >> Or is it Have you ever been in Quincy's pickup before? >> Mhm. >> When was the last time that you were in his pickup? >> I don't know. It's been broken for a long time. >> What happened to it? >> Clutch or something. I think went out. >> Clutch went out. >> Yeah. >> You know how long that's been? >> A long time. I'm not exactly sure, but it >> was fun cuz I I just Some people say a long time and I'm like, "Oh, is that like two two weeks?" I'm old. >> So, a long time to me is like years. >> Yeah. >> But I imagine Quincy probably fries in the drive to pick up very long if you only have a permit. >> Yeah. >> Well, he's had his license longer than me. So, >> Okay. >> Or I don't have it at all, [laughter] but >> he's had it a while. >> So, it's a long time, like a couple weeks, or is it like two months, a year? It just said the clutch had been out for a long time. I was just trying to put a reference on. >> Six, five, six months. I don't know. >> Five or six months clutch. >> I don't know. I'm not exactly sure. >> Oh, so there's that picture there. Um, that look any clearer? >> No, not really. Not really. >> Can I get an attorney before I answer all these questions? I feel like I'm doing it wrong. >> That's fine. one child to have an attorney. >> Okay. >> All right. [snorts] >> And what will an attorney do for me? Like >> tell me what to say or what? >> Well, I mean, you've asked for attorney, so I can't explain to you. What an attorney will do for you. [clears throat] Um, that's what an attorney will explain to you. What I'll tell you is that we're going to if you have time. >> Yep. >> Um, so at this point, we're not going to ask you any more questions. Um, we're going to put you into a a holding area. >> Okay. We'll work on getting you access to that attorney. [clears throat] >> Okay. Um, we're going to end up we'll have you transported. Um, you made aware what you were arrested for earlier. Correct. >> You said assault. >> It's assault, but it's assault in the first degree. Um, and it's in correlation with the attempted murder in the first degree. [snorts] Wait, what? >> So, you're under arrest for attempted murder in the first degree. Okay. >> So, like I said, I'm not going to ask you any questions, but we're into a holding cell. Um, and we have another interview to do with some of the other individuals and but you'll be booked down into King County Youth Correction Center. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, let me go ahead and work on getting that turning for you. Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. Time is 1:42 and I'm ending the audio only recording. >> Just hold tight here for just a second. Okay. Joseph [music] Good invoked his right to counsel and never gave a full account of the shooting or his relationship to Sharon Kelly. Detectives did however confirm his friendship with Menddees and that he had written in Menddees's distinctive pickup. Next, detectives [music] spoke with Mendes. before he reads that to you. Um, so I mean we have we want to talk to you about I don't know if we got into that or not but um a [snorts] lot of it seems like your part from what we can tell is pretty minimal in this whole thing but we still want to talk to you about it and kind of get it out there. So before we did that to go or something. >> Um you have So I'm just going to read you. >> Okay. >> Time you uh you were down in Belle. >> You probably noticed we're from Belleview PD from Alberta PD. >> When was the last time you think you were in Belle? [snorts] [screaming] >> Last time like officially like I was down there like walking around and stuff. >> Well, what's officially versus official? I mean, I I drove and passed through Belleview and drove past back, but I haven't really been to Belle since what? I haven't been walking around Belle since school. >> Mendes initially gives detectives very little, but then he makes one claim that immediately gives investigators something to work with. He says he hadn't been in Belleview since CO began. Detectives already had surveillance showing his truck in Belleview that morning with Joseph Good inside. >> Obviously, you've known all this before, but you're like playing po with us. And most people when we bring them in here, when we tell them, "Hey, you're under arrest for a serious assault, in this case, an attempted murder," they become a little bit more cooperative, like, "Hey, I don't want to be involved with that at all." So, this is kind of like your last chance. Tell the truth. Tell us what your involvement is because I don't know if you want to be wrapped up on Josh or on Joseph's side or, you know, if you're looking out for what's best for Quincy going forward because people are going to be held accountable and I want you to tell me the truth cuz like I said, I don't believe that your involvement is as great as the others. But if you're going to lie about it, then other people are like, "Well, he lied about this, lied about this." So, he probably knew about everything else cuz he's covering up for it. So, you need to tell us what you knew. >> I didn't know much. He just told me. I mean, like I said, I was on shrooms. I'm not lying about I was on shrooms. >> I know you were on shrooms. I saw the videos of you and swimming through the thing with the thing on top of her head that she sent you. [clears throat] Right. Like I said, I've seen all the Snapchats. [laughter] I' I've got all of that. This is why I know that you guys were there. This is why I know what happened. >> Yeah, I get that. >> Okay. So, this is your chance. So, what did Joseph tell you? >> Uh, he just told me I don't have to say anything pretty much to be honest with you. So, >> did he tell you? >> I I saw it. I did text him. I'm like, "Bro, what did we do?" Blah, blah, blah. He's like, "Don't worry about it. You'll be fine." And [clears throat] I was like, "Bro, it's not okay. Why?" I'm tripping on shrooms and stuff. And after that, I was freaking out. I didn't know what to do. I really didn't. >> It was a pretty serious thing. I mean, >> it is. >> He took advantage of your friendship by sucking you into this, right? >> He did. >> How did he convince you to go to Belia? >> I I was down with it. I mean, I was on trim. I I felt great and just so I was like, bro, I don't want to. I mean, at first I didn't want to. And then I was on like, bro, who cares? Just go. You'll be fine. This and that. I'll pay for everything. I was like, or I guess. And we went. I didn't know what he did. And then when he told me to check the news later, I did. I saw that. Got him. I didn't really put them after that. After >> you're not best friends anymore. Yes. Yes. I Yes. Why? Because I I I knew it was wrong. I knew I up on my part for being on something I should have been on and thinking on what we're doing. I It's not right. I appreciate you being honest. So, one of my questions in regards to that. So, Joseph talks to you about going down to Belle, why you're there. Does it tell you why? Does it tell you who told him to? No. Okay. What about the money? >> Did Joseph talk to you about getting paid? about like probably like five, five grand just to help me. >> So you said somewhere between four and six grand, right? >> Yeah, somewhere around there. >> That's what you told your friends. >> I did. Yeah. >> Who' you tell that you were going to get paid? >> Just my close friends, but I didn't really. >> Which which friends did you tell? >> Uh obviously I already know. I've seen the Snapchats. >> Yeah, that's true. I can't remember directly right now, but I I did tell people. >> Okay. So, did you get paid? >> No. >> What did Joseph say? Why you didn't get paid? >> I didn't really ask him questions cuz I was scared. >> Did he threaten you? >> No, [clears throat] he did not threaten me. It's just I didn't really want to mess with him. But whatever he did, I didn't I didn't want I mean, I thought about it. I >> mean, you've already admitted to being there. So >> the more honest you are with us, the more what you tell us makes sense. And so if you lie to us after you've already said, "Yeah, I was there. I've been involved in this." It just makes you look guilty, right? I mean, versus you're honest with us, then we can believe everything you say and then realize, well, okay, maybe Quincy was just a psych and he got sucked in by Joseph. But you obviously drove in there and you didn't come to the police. You didn't tell us these things. So, I'm very suspicious about your involvement in this thing and what you know. Obviously, you said that Joseph offered to pay you money for that. So, some of the things you told me already, >> I mean, let's be honest, those are wrong and you know they were wrong and a good person wouldn't necessarily do those, but a good person like you're being right now tells the truth and makes amends for what happened. Okay? I can guarantee you that there's more than just Joseph that's out there that needs to be held accountable because two 16 17 year old >> young men don't go out and say, "Hey, let's randomly take somebody out." >> Oh, what I've noticed about he's been hanging out with the wrong crew. I can tell you guys that he's been hanging out with the wrong crew. I don't know why. >> I said that at the beginning, he's been out with the gang, right? >> Yes. >> So, there's a word on the street. So, what's who's he hanging out with? Uh that I don't really I haven't hung out with them in a while. >> You haven't hung out with >> I mean the only time I hang out with them is probably I've been up to his house kicked back probably with his sister and some other friend not like not like innocent people like and stuff but um his other friends I don't really know that well. He just he's always bringing up oh I'm going to go hang out with some some like big homies and stuff this and that. That's pretty much it. >> But you know who they are? I probably not not their big homies. I know I know since elementary. Me and him go way back. What game are they with? Uh like he rolls with what his or I mean [clears throat] I don't really know much about that. I mean I've seen the Snapchat videos. >> Following the interviews, Kelly Good and Mendes remained in custody, but the investigation wasn't over. Detectives still had evidence to process and the next day they obtained a search warrant for the phone seized during the arrests. That evening, detectives submitted goods phone for digital forensic examination. What investigators found on that phone would change the trajectory of the case. It was a text conversation with an unidentified number, and the person on the other end appeared to know exactly what happened to Baron. The messages were dated August 3rd, 24 days after the shooting, and Good appeared to be asking about payment. Good [music] writes, "Any update?" The unidentified reply, "Job unfinished will need to complete [music] unless it resolves on its own in the next month." Good responds, "You sure? I'm pretty sure I finished it well. I don't think there's any way." So, he's not dead. The reply, "Yes, unfortunately." The conversation then turned [music] to finishing the job. Good says, "Would like a partial payment in advance as well to pay off my driver and backup." The unidentified response, "So, how about I give you 2500 now and the rest when it's done?" Good says, "Yes, that will help." Police eventually connected the [music] number to Sharon Kelly after subscriber records revealed an email address and security pin that matched information Kelly had used for her GPS tracker. The next day, Good had a friend drive him to the pickup location where he collected the money. Minutes later, he photographed the friend posing with the cash and even posted the pictures to Snapchat. [music] Police determined the friend did not know why Good was receiving [music] the money. But the texts raise a question the investigators still needed to answer. Why? Why would Kelly want [music] Baron dead badly enough to pay someone to kill him? The answer went back years. Baron Lee has said publicly that he and Sharon Kelly married in 2010 and had one child in common, Eric, before Kelly filed for divorce [music] in August 2015. Lee told them he had been awarded full custody of Eric after Kelly lost custody in [music] a neglect case. By March 2020, a judge had removed Kelly's unsupervised and overnight visitation after she failed to properly document the child's medications and care. and investigators later obtained court records from Snowomish County Superior Court that appeared to confirm Lee's account. 4 months later, Lee was shot nine times. According to prosecutors, Sharon Kelly hired Joseph [music] Good to kill her ex-husband, Baron Lee. Good then brought his friend Quincy Menddees into the plan, offering him money to drive the truck. The arrest came within 3 months, but the case would not reach its final resolution for another 3 years. By October 2020, prosecutors had charged all three with attempted first-degree murder. Good also faced charge for unlawful possession of a firearm, while Kelly's attempted murder charge carried a domestic [music] violence enhancer. Both Good and Menddees were 17 at the time, but the state charged and prosecuted them as adults. Ultimately, all three pleaded guilty rather than go to trial. In 2023, Joseph Good received roughly 12 years and 8 months for attempted secondderee murder [music] and unlawful firearm possession. Quincy Menddees, originally charged with attempted first-degree murder, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and was sentenced to 8 years and 10 months with a portion of that sentence to be served in juvenile detention. Before sentencing, Menddees read a letter to Lee in which he apologized and said, "I thank God every day for saving your life. I would not have been able to live with that guilt." November 2023, more than 3 years after the shooting, Kelly finally [music] faced sentencing. Before handing down the punishment, the judge made one thing clear. What I find disturbing about this case is not only your solicitation and attempted murder of Mr. Lee, but the fact that you brought two juveniles into the picture. Baron Lee had waited three years for this moment. He rose, [music] addressed the court, and asked for the maximum sentence. After initially pleading not guilty, [music] Sharon Kelly received a sentence of 13 years and 9 months at the high end of the applicable range for solicitation to commit secondderee [music] murder with the judge noting she had orchestrated the crime. Lee said the sentencing brought him closure, though not forgiveness, for his ex-wife. I said it in an [music] interview three years ago, and I'll say it again. I hope she rots in [music] jail, Lee said. Baron Lee survived the shooting. The investigation eventually exposed the people behind it. But the case also left him with something that a prison sentence couldn't [music] undo. The knowledge that the attack had been ordered by someone [music] he once called family.