GRANITE FALLS – A Granite Falls man was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bail today in connection with the shooting death of his girlfriend Sunday morning.
Everett District Court Judge Tam Bui found probable cause to hold Modesto Cruz Mejia, 25, for investigation of first-degree manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Mejia told police he picked up the gun after the couple had been intimate, according to a police report.
He said the weapon accidentally fired, the bullet hitting Joanna Marsh, 22. in her torso. He also told police the gun was part of the couple’s foreplay.
Mejia has a history of assault and domestic violence, police said.
The couple’s two children were in the room when the shooting occurred. They were unharmed.
There had been a party Saturday at the couple’s home in the 23200 block of 134th Street NE to celebrate Mejia’s birthday, police said.
Mejia admitted to police he and Marsh were drunk. He drank more than a six pack of beer, he said, and Marsh drank nearly as many hard lemonades.
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