Suspect claims self defense in Mukilteo shooting

Published 7:07 pm Wednesday, December 23, 2015

MUKILTEO — A man accused of shooting an acquaintance repeatedly in the legs at a home in Mukilteo on Monday told police he was acting in self defense.

Bail was set at $75,000 Wednesday for Jacq Mitchell, 23, who was arrested for investigation of first-degree assault.

There were differing versions of what led up to the shooting, which was reported about 10 p.m. Monday in the 5000 block of 84th Street SW.

The victim, 31, was shot twice in his right thigh. His right femur reportedly was fractured into six pieces. He also had three gunshot wounds to his left thigh, including a “through-and-through” injury.

Mitchell allegedly told Mukilteo police that there had been a struggle for control of a gun.

“During the struggle, Mitchell claimed that three or four shots went off,” police wrote in a probable cause statement.

Mitchell also allegedly told police that the man backed up after he was shot and that’s when Mitchell left the apartment.

Police told Mitchell that the wounded man could not have backed up with a shattered femur the way he described it.

They also told the suspect that the man was shot at least twice in the back of the legs.

The man who was shot confirmed to police that there was a struggle for the gun.

He reportedly said he believed the first shot went into the ceiling and the second shot shattered his femur.

He said that he believed Mitchell shot him several times while he was on the ground.

Based on X-rays, detectives believe it was more likely he was shot twice while he was on the floor.

Mukilteo police believe it wasn’t the first time Mitchell was involved in an armed altercation.

“During research on Mitchell by day shift officers, they found that he had previously been charged with murder 2 in Seattle in a self-defense-type shooting,” officers wrote.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.