Brothers indicted in firebombing of Shoreline Black-owned coffee shop

KING COUNTY, Wash. — On Thursday, two brothers were arraigned on an indictment in connection with the firebombing of Shoreline’s first Black-owned coffee shop.

According to a release from the United States Department of Justice, 23-year-old Taylor Lemay Rice and 21-year-old Daniel Lemay Rice pleaded not guilty and were released on personal appearance bonds.

In September 2020, the coffee shop building was pelted with Molotov cocktails in an apparent attempt to burn it down, KIRO 7′s Deborah Horne reported in January 2021. The coffee shop also shares the building with Bethany Church on Aurora Avenue.

“So yes, we did have an arson scare, which was terrible,” Erwin Weary had told Horne.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the men have been charged with unlawful possession of a destructive device -- four Molotov cocktails.

The sides of the building were darkened, but no extensive damage was done.

Officials said the men were identified as suspects after authorities reviewed surveillance video, cellphone records and were questioned by investigators. They turned themselves in.

At the time of the incident, the coffee shop had been closed, and new operators were preparing for a reopening; however, there were signs showing the old ownership.

During the detention hearing, prosecutors said the firebombing was probably motivated by a dispute involving one of the brother’s cars being towed from the area around the coffee shop months earlier.

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