EVERETT — They had been roommates for nearly five years, and she called him “Pops.”
The Lake Stevens woman, 49, thought of Thomas Lupher Clark as a father figure, but a spat over their lawn ended in bloodshed.
Prosecutors earlier this month charged Clark, 71, with first-degree domestic violence assault. He remains jailed on $500,000 bail. Clark is accused of shooting his former roommate in the gut with a two-shot Derringer pistol.
The bullet hit the woman near her navel and lodged in her buttocks area, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Scott Halloran wrote in charging papers. She also fractured her hip. The break was caused by the bullet or her falling after being shot. She uses a walker to get around now, Halloran wrote.
The roommates had a falling out about a week before the May 28 shooting. Police were told that Clark became enraged over a minor dispute over mowing the lawn. The woman reported that Clark grabbed her arm and was threatening. His reaction was out of proportion to the dispute, she said.
Clark was arrested for investigation of domestic violence and jailed. He was released the next day. The woman obtained a protection order to keep Clark away.
The day of the shooting the woman and her friend were reviewing some paperwork when they heard a knock at the door. They saw that Clark was outside, and the woman started to call 911 to report Clark’s violation of the no-contact order.
He allegedly walked into the kitchen, pulled out the Derringer and aimed it at the woman’s head, according to court papers. She tried to move as Clark tilted the barrel down and pulled the trigger, Halloran wrote.
Clark then reportedly placed the wooden-handled pistol on the counter, walked outside to the porch, sat down and began to roll a cigarette.
He warned the first officers on scene that he had a small knife in his pocket. He also allegedly admitted that he shot the woman in front of her friend.
“I’ll be as helpful as I can. There’s no denying what I did,” Clark reportedly said.
He allegedly told police that he wanted to teach the woman a lesson. He was upset that he’d been arrested the previous week and complained that he’d been prohibited from collecting his DVD player or television after his arrest, Halloran wrote.
Last week, Clark pleaded not guilty to the charge. His trial is scheduled for August.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
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