The estate of a 30-year-old Renton man gunned down inside the now-defunct Munchbar nightclub in Bellevue on Christmas Eve 2012 was awarded $3.7 million by a jury presiding over a civil suit filed by the family of DeShawn Milliken against Brewhaha Bellevue.

Ja’Mari Jones shot Milliken multiple times inside the night club, killing the Renton man. Milliken and his sister, Destiny, were standing near Jones in the club, when court documents state Milliken tackled his murderer. A friend of Jones’ reportedly intervened. It was at this point that Jones pulled out a handgun and shot Milliken several times in the back, his sister and another patron also being struck during the shooting.

Jones, who was 19 at the time, was later apprehended in a stolen vehicle, along with his 20-year-old girlfriend, and charged with second-degree murder. Munchbar closed shortly after. He pleaded guilty in December to one count of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 18 1/2 years in prison one month later.

Milliken’s family alleged in its November 2013 complaint negligence on the part of Munchbar operator Brewhaha Bellevue and property owner Kemper Development Company for not addressing a pattern of violence, underage drinking, overserving of bar patrons and inadequate security measures. The family sought compensation for emotional and physical damages, including financial loss due to Milliken’s death. In the nearly two years Munchbar was in operation, Bellevue Police responded to 377 calls for service at the nightclub.

A jury awarded DeShawn Milliken’s estate $3.7 million in damages and another $520,000 to his sister, Destiny. The jury also found Milliken and his sister were partially at fault. Because the jury found Milliken 20 percent at fault, the actual amount to be awarded to his estate is $2.775 million, while Destiny Milliken will receive $390,000 due to the jury finding her 5 percent at fault.

“They really just wanted accountability by Munchbar for what happened to their daughter and son,” said attorney Felix Luna, who represented the family.

Luna said DeShawn Milliken’s 8-year-old daughter is the sole beneficiary of her father’s estate, and the awarded $2.775 million will likely be placed into a trust until she turns 18.