Update for Sept. 16
Bryce Huber was sentenced to 32 years in prison on Sept. 16 for the murder of 26-year-old Steve Bushaw.

Late last month, a King County jury found Huber guilty of first degree murder as the mastermind behind the Bushaw's shooting death in front of Talarico's on Feb, 1, 2009.

The two actual shooters, Danny O’Neal, Jr. and John Sylve, pleaded guilty to second degree murder charges and will be sentenced at the end of this month.

There was a hung jury on murder charges for Brandon Chaney, the alleged getaway driver after the shooting and King County Prosecutors are currently considering a retrail.

Original post on Aug. 30
A King County jury found Bryce Huber guilty of first degree murder in the Steve Bushaw murder trial on Aug. 30. According to court documents, he was considered the mastermind of a revenge plot to murder the victim for a home invasion robbery they believed Bushaw to be involved in.

Bushaw was shot in front of Talarico’s in West Seattle’s Junction on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009.

There was a hung jury on first degree murder charges for alleged getaway driver Brandon Chaney, and King County Prosecuting Attorney spokesman Dan Donohoe said the prosecutor’s office is currently considering a retrial.

Huber will be sentenced on Sept. 16 and the two men who admitted to shooting Bushaw early in 2011, Danny O’Neal, Jr. and John Sylve, will be sentenced at the end of next month on second degree murder charges.

Background on the shooting
After Bushaw was shot by O’Neal, Jr. and Sylve an expansive investigation by Seattle Police detectives broke down the series of events leading to his murder.

According to court documents, Bushaw had been working as a longshoresman where he met Bryce Huber. The men became friends and Huber introduced Bushaw to a drug dealer who could supply him with marijuana for resale.

On Jan. 19, 2009 that drug dealer was the victim of a home invasion robbery where he was beaten by two men who stole an unspecified amount of marijuana and cash. During the robbery the men were speaking with a third person on a cell phone, and in the aftermath the drug dealer and Huber believed Bushaw was the third person who had orchestrated the attack.

On the day of his murder, Bushaw had spent the day in Federal Way watching the Super Bowl with friends and then came back to his parent’s house in West Seattle. That night he told his parents he was headed out to meet “Bryce.”

Charging documents reveal through witness testimony and cell phone records that Huber met with Bushaw at Talarico’s. Huber led him outside for a cigarette where O’Neal Jr. and Sylve were waiting with handguns. They shot Bushaw several times and fled to a waiting car driven by Chaney.

Remembering Steve
Bushaw was known by friends and family as funny and caring. Here is a reposting of the Herald’s 2009 story, "Remembering Steve Bushaw":

In a fatal shooting on Feb. 1, the West Seattle community lost Steve Bushaw, a young man that friends describe as both funny and extremely caring.

“He was a joy to have around,” says Jay Sherwood, one of Bushaw’s best friends. “He brought energy to any situation he was in.”

Many who knew Bushaw described him as a very humorous, goofy person.

“He was always clowning around and doing what he could to make people laugh,” said friend Anthony Contreras. “ There was never a dull moment with him.”

Still, others mentioned how respectful Bushaw was.

Linda Rhoton says he daughter was friends with Bushaw and remembers Bushaw spending a lot of time at her home.

“He was the one that would pitch in and help out around the house,” says Rhoton. She says that Bushaw even organized dinners for her to show his appreciation.

“He just always touched my heart,” says Rhoton.

Sherwood says that Bushaw truly loved his family, and that he was the only guy who would ever leave a party early to go home and hang out with his parents. He added that the 26-year-old wanted to try and help his family out financially in the future.

ReNae Schwartz, Bushaw’s cousin, remembers how proud he was of his family and how much he loved his parents, sister and niece.

Growing up in West Seattle, Bushaw attended Hope Lutheran School and later West Seattle High School.
Many recall watching Bushaw play soccer during high school.

“I remember sitting in the stands with his mother and seeing how proud she was of her son,” says Teressa Keenehan, who watched Bushaw play the sport with her two sons. “I was amazed as I watched him run down the field with his crazy moves, constantly making it all the way down the field to shoot the ball in with his left foot and make the goal!”

“He’s the best player I’ve ever played on a team with,” says Contreras, who was a goalie on Bushaw’s team. “I dreaded going up against him every day because he had the hardest shot in the metro league.”

More recently, Sherwood says Bushaw liked to spend time outdoors camping, riding dirt bikes or barbequing with friends. The two of them also spent much of their time snowboarding.

Just before his death, friends say that Bushaw was determined to join the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. Sherwood says that Bushaw had plans to try and improve the union once he got in.

“He was very passionate about it,” says Sherwood.

On Feb. 8 Talarico’s Pizzeria hosted a benefit for Bushaw’s family. With the restaurant quickly filled to capacity, it was clear how many people Bushaw impacted during his short life.

“To say that he was a great man is an understatement. He had a great heart and he loved people so much. I’ve never met anyone that touched people the way he did,” says Contreras. “They’ll never be another like him.”