EVERETT — Prosecutors have charged a Lake Stevens man with second-degree murder, almost a year after a fatal shooting at a Casino Road apartment complex.
It took 10 months for police to investigate and arrest Malik Fulson after the April 29 shooting that left Joseph Haderlie, 27, dead at the Crystal Springs Apartments at 702 West Casino Road.
Everett police did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the length of the investigation.
“Homicide cases take a long time to develop,” said Michael Held, chief of staff for the Snohomish County prosecutor’s office.
Around 10:45 p.m. April 29, Haderlie and at least three witnesses were standing in the apartment parking lot when Fulson, now 30, approached them, according to the charges filed Friday in Snohomish County Superior Court. Fulson had dated one of the witnesses, with whom Haderlie later had a relationship.
Fulson asked Haderlie if he was “good,” and tried to shake his hand, witnesses later told police. Haderlie refused. Fulson backed away from Haderlie while staring him down, prosecutors wrote.
The two women went back into the apartment to put on warmer clothes. Haderlie stayed outside with Fulson, according to court documents.
Fulson allegedly took out a handgun and shot Haderlie five times. One of the witnesses heard loud sounds coming from the parking lot and went back outside to find Fulson shooting Haderlie, the charges say. Detectives found six .380-caliber shell casings at the scene.
Haderlie grabbed his neck and said, in a garbled voice, “what the (expletive),” a witness reported. The shooter fled. Haderlie died at the scene.
Earlier that night, witnesses said Fulson attended a kid’s birthday party in the same apartment complex, introducing himself as “Capone,” according to court documents.
On Feb. 28, police arrested Fulson. He agreed to a police interview. He confirmed he had gone by “Capone” since he was 18, according to the charges, but denied killing Haderlie.
Fulson confirmed he was at the apartment complex the night of the shooting, but told investigators he left before Haderlie was killed, according to court papers. Phone records reportedly showed Fulson at the apartment complex starting just before 6 p.m. the day of the shooting until 3:30 a.m. the following morning.
Through a police database, detectives learned Fulson and Haderlie were reportedly affiliated with rival gangs, court documents said. Prosecutors wrote it was unknown if this was a gang-related shooting.
Fulson has four felony convictions, for second-degree robbery, unlawful firearm possession, third-degree assault and harassment, court records show. In 2020, he was sentenced to a year in jail on the harassment case. Since Fulson is a convicted felon, prosecutors also charged him with unlawful firearm possession in the alleged murder.
In 2017, prosecutors dropped charges against Fulson after he was accused of being in a car during a drive-by shooting that ended with no injuries.
If convicted, Fulson faces 20 to 30 years in prison, deputy prosecutor Kirk Mahjoubian wrote in the charges. The defendant was arraigned Monday.
On Wednesday, he remained in the Snohomish County Jail with bail set at $2 million.
Jonathan Tall: 425-339-3486; jonathan.tall@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @snocojon.
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