UW Star Budda Baker's Brother Dies In Seattle Shooting

SEATTLE, WA - The man who died early Sunday morning after a shooting in the Ballard neighborhood has been identified as Robert Baker, brother of University of Washington Huskies football star Budda Baker.

Robert Baker was identified in various media reports, as well as through Budda Baker's social media accounts. The King County Medical Examiner confirmed the death on Monday afternoon, reporting that Robert Baker died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

"On behalf of the Baker Family we want to thank everyone for their generous outpouring of love, support, and prayers during this extremely difficult time at the passing of our dearly beloved son, brother and husband, Robert Baker," Budda Baker posted on his Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Seattle police responded to 17th Avenue Northwest near Leary Avenue around 1:45 a.m. Sunday on a report of a shooting. At the scene, they found Baker, 29, with a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Robert Baker served seven years in prison for robbery, but he and Budda Baker stayed in touch during that time, according to Sports Illustrated. The magazine profiled the two brothers in 2016.

"For seven years the brothers exchanged handwritten notes full of updates from home and trash talk. They also spoke by phone most Thursdays while Robert was locked up for first-degree robbery and possession of a firearm, initially at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, Wash., then at Larch Corrections Center in Yacolt."

Both brothers were from Bellevue. Budda Baker was drafted in 2017 by the Arizona Cardinals and signed a four-year contract with the team last May.

Caption: Defensive back Budda Baker #32 of the Washington Huskies during the college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)