CAMANO ISLAND — A Camano Island man was killed Saturday in an argument with his sister’s ex-boyfriend, court records show.
Thomas Edward William McKnight, 24, died from a stab wound to the chest, according to the Island County Coroner. His death was ruled a homicide.
The suspect, 19-year-old Gabriel Birch, is being held on suspicion of manslaughter. Bail was set Monday at $150,000.
The killing was reported just after 8 a.m. Saturday at a home along Rowe Road.
Birch allegedly told Island County sheriff’s deputies he didn’t mean to kill McKnight and “he was sorry for what he had done.”
Birch had been living with the family for the past two years, court records show. He and the young woman had broken up a few weeks prior. They got into an argument that morning about when Birch would be moving out. The yelling woke up McKnight, who joined the fray.
Birch told detectives he was trying to protect the woman from McKnight, who reportedly had grabbed his sister. Birch said he then picked up a knife.
McKnight allegedly grabbed Birch’s neck, and Birch stabbed him three times, police were told. McKnight died in the kitchen before help arrived.
Birch “has no permanent residence, job or connections to the community,” detectives wrote.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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