Goat-butchering argument leads to gunfire near Marysville

Published 1:30 am Thursday, May 2, 2019

MARYSVILLE — A man fired a gun toward three people who butchered a goat on his property near Marysville and tried to leave without cleaning up, according to sheriff’s deputies.

The men were visiting a 10-acre farm off 19th Avenue NE Tuesday evening, to buy and carve up the animal.

A homeowner became angry because the trio “did not clean up the mess they had made after butchering the goat, as agreed prior,” according to a Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office report.

The man, 28, blocked the driveway with a truck and trailer when they tried to drive off. While the men were in the vehicle, he fired a shot into the driver’s side rear tire, according to the sheriff’s office. He shot from a distance of 10 to 15 feet, sheriff’s spokeswoman Courtney O’Keefe said.

“I will shoot you, (expletive),” the gunman reportedly told them.

The men were able to calm him down — then called 911. They reported hearing multiple shots. One bullet casing was recovered at the scene.

There was no other damage to the car.

The man was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree assault. Court records suggest he had no felony history in Washington.

Everett District Court Judge Tam Bui set bail Wednesday at $25,000.

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