Hatchet attack left man with skull fractures in Marysville

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, April 2, 2019

MARYSVILLE — He rushed into a Taco Bell bleeding from the head that night, saying he’d been attacked with a hatchet at the middle school.

He survived, but suffered brain hemorrhaging and skull fractures late March 2.

A teenager was charged Friday with first-degree assault for an apparent robbery.

The man, 32, recounted what happened for police in a hospital room. He’d been walking in Marysville when a girl, 13, came up to him and asked if he’d seen her boyfriend, Lucky. They walked together until they found the young man, 19. They went behind Totem Middle School, where the couple used drugs, according to the man.

He did not see the hatchet before being hit, charging papers say. He’d been reaching into his backpack to get water, when the teen swung the weapon at his head multiple times, he reported. Police saw the man had cuts to the back of his hands, inflicted while he was trying to protect his skull.

At the scene, police found a hatchet in a garbage bin.

Detectives released some details to the public. A tip led them to a suspect. Police showed the wounded man pictures of a possible attacker and the girl, who had been reported as a runaway.

The man reported he was sure it was them.

Officers found the pair at a fast food restaurant in Everett on March 12. Officers ordered the suspect to stop, but he bolted out a side exit where more officers waited, according to the charges. It took four officers to overpower him. Only afterward did they notice he had another hatchet in his waistband.

Police spoke with the girl. She confirmed she’d gotten separated from her boyfriend on the night of March 2. She asked the man to help look for him. Once they found him, they went behind the middle school to smoke meth. She reported she didn’t know in advance that the teen would attack the man. She left for a moment to look for a ride, and as she returned she heard screaming and saw the man being hit on the ground.

She ran off, she reported. Later she met up with the teen again. He reportedly showed her things he’d stolen: an iPad, a phone and some cords.

The defendant is now being held at the Snohomish County Jail with bail set at $250,000. He has a history of first-degree burglary, first-degree theft and felony assault.

If convicted as charged, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

Police asked the girl about the second hatchet.

She reported a friend had heard about the assault, and gave the teen another hatchet, as a joke.

Caleb Hutton: 425-339-3454; chutton@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snocaleb.