Washington state teen kills friend with single punch, authorities say
Michael Galen, 18, is facing a manslaughter charge after he and his pal agreed to settle a fight with one punch, according to cops.
BY DAVID BOROFF
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, December 23, 2014, 9:43 AM
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One punch turned a fight between friends into tragedy on Sunday.
A Washington state teen is dead and a pal is facing a manslaughter charge after they agreed to settle a fight between them with one punch.
“To the parents of the kid it happened to, please, I’m so sorry he did this," the suspect's dad Michael Galen told KIRO. "Please forgive me and forgive him."
The fight between Galen's son, also named Michael, and Jaron Thomas had started following a minor car accident at a party in Snohomish County early Sunday morning. Thomas may have struck the vehicle that Galen was sitting in, KIRO reported.
JAROM THOMAS VIA FACEBOOKJarom Thomas died at the hospital after he was punched by Michael Galen, cops say.
After some pushing, Thomas insisted that Galen punch him once in a handshake "agreement" that they sealed by smoking a cigarette together, according to the station.
Galen punched Thomas with a closed fist, cops said, and Thomas hit his head on the pavement after the blow. He died at the hospital later Sunday.
“Michael said to me, 'Dad he’s my friend — he got in my face and told me to hit him,'" the elder Galen told KIRO. "They were all drinking and things got out of hand."
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After he found out his friend had died, the teen Galen allegedly tried to get a witness to say the punch was in self-defense. He was busted for second-degree manslaughter and is being held on $10,000 bail, KIRO reported.
