A woman who allegedly shot and killed another woman on Labor Day 2022 has pleaded guilty, and her charge was brought down to manslaughter in the first degree.

On Sept. 23, 2024, Kaejah Duncan, 24, pleaded guilty to the Sept. 5, 2022, killing of Aniyah Lowe, 19. According to the court documents, Duncan was originally charged with murder in the second degree, which has a maximum sentence of life, and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree, which has a maximum sentence of 10 years. Duncan instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree, which has a maximum sentence of life.

Although the maximum sentence for manslaughter in the first degree is life, prosecuting attorney Aubony Burns is recommending a sentence of 110 months, 36 months of community custody, and restitution to be determined. Duncan’s counsel recommends a sentence of 78 months. Her sentencing is set for Oct. 25, 2024.

The judge asked Duncan to state briefly in her own words what made her guilty of the crime she had pleaded guilty to.

“On September 5, 2022, in King County, I recklessly caused the death of Aniyah Lowe by shooting at a car in which Ms. Lowe was a passenger. Ms. Lowe had sprayed me and my cousin, Monique Duncan, with bear mace before the two got in a car and began to drive away. I then fired at the car, killing Ms. Lowe,” Duncan’s statement read. “I did not intend to kill Ms. Lowe. However, I did know of and disregard a substantial risk that death would occur when I shot a gun at the car.”

Details of the 2022 crime

According to charging documents, prosecutors say Duncan shot at a moving vehicle that was fleeing a parking lot at a condominium apartment complex. Her actions “put not only those in the vehicle she shot at and killed (in danger), but also the people in the complex,” prosecutors wrote.

Also concerning was her possession of a fully automatic “ghost gun,” or an unregistered firearm, prosecutors said. They asked for $2 million bail due to the “extreme danger (Duncan) poses to the community if released.”

Lowe succumbed to her wounds at St. Francis Hospital. Charging documents indicate a 911 caller at 11:19 p.m. frantically reported that her friend had been shot.

As Federal Way police responded to the area, 911 operators received more reports of shots at the Maplewood Condominiums in the 32100 block of 46th Place SW. About 10 minutes later, while officers were searching the area, the 19-year-old woman arrived at St. Francis Hospital in a private vehicle with a gunshot wound to her back.

Witness interviews and a crime scene investigation led officers to develop probable cause and execute a search warrant for a residence in the area. By 9:30 a.m., officers had found Duncan at that residence and arrested her without incident.

Prosecutors said Duncan has a previous conviction in Pierce County for second-degree assault with a deadly weapon.