Seattle Attacker Released After Serving Only Eight Months for Brutal Assaults
A man convicted of attempting to gouge out a Seattle shop owner's eyes and brutally beating his girlfriend with a liquor bottle has been freed from jail after serving just eight months of his sentence. Jibri Kambui, 28, carried out the horrific attacks in June of last year, leaving his victims with severe injuries and ongoing trauma.
Violent Assault on Shop Owner in Broad Daylight
On June 15, 2023, Jibri Kambui approached Jennafah Dawn Singer outside her art and jewelry shop during a pop-up event. Witnesses reported that Kambui had been acting erratically, screaming at attendees and attempting to break into vehicles. When Singer turned away to call 911, Kambui grabbed her from behind and pushed his fingers into her eye sockets, threatening to gouge out her eyes before knocking her to the ground.
Video footage of the assault showed a group of bystanders rushing to intervene, pulling Kambui off Singer and restraining him until police arrived. Singer, who has since closed her shop due to the trauma, expressed deep fear for her safety following Kambui's early release.
Brutal Domestic Attack on Girlfriend
Earlier that same day, Kambui had attacked his 24-year-old girlfriend, Sunshine Tracht, in their home. Court documents reveal that he struck her head with a Skyy Vodka bottle, twisted her neck, attempted to stab her eyes, stomped on her, kicked her ribs, threw objects at her, and tried to break her arm. Tracht suffered brutal injuries from the assault.
Three months later, Tracht died, with the medical examiner ruling the cause as alcoholic ketoacidosis, a metabolic condition linked to severe alcohol use. However, her mother, Kelly Tweedell, believes the attack directly contributed to her daughter's death and expressed outrage in court over the plea deal offered to Kambui.
Court Proceedings and Early Release
Jibri Kambui pleaded guilty to assaulting both women and two Good Samaritans who helped Singer. He blamed his actions on being high on psychedelic mushrooms and sleep-deprived, though he acknowledged these were not excuses. During his sentencing hearing in early February, he received what victims understood to be the maximum sentence of 12 months in jail.
Despite this, Kambui was released on February 11, 2024, after serving only eight months. Jail records cite "sentence served" as the reason for his release, though it remains unclear why he did not complete the full term. The King County Prosecuting Attorney's office referred inquiries to the Department of Corrections, which then redirected back to the prosecutor's office, creating confusion over accountability.
Victims' Outcry and Safety Concerns
Both victims and their families have voiced strong concerns about the justice system's handling of the case. Singer stated that the court system failed them, arguing that the sentence did not match the severity of the crimes. Tweedell criticized the plea deal that listed the beating as fourth-degree domestic violence, insisting it should have been treated as attempted murder.
The judge countered that if there had been a legal basis to charge Kambui with murder or negligent homicide related to Tracht's death, the prosecution would have pursued it. Nonetheless, the early release has left the community and victims fearful, with Singer noting, "That man is walking the streets of Seattle now, and I feel really unsafe."
The case highlights ongoing debates about sentencing, early releases, and victim safety in the criminal justice system, with calls for greater transparency and accountability in such violent crime proceedings.
