Charges: Suspect shot man 6 times south of Snohomish

SNOHOMISH — Prosecutors have charged two men in connection with the killing of a man found shot to death in the road near Maltby last month.

Phoenix Myers-Barnes, 27, faces second-degree murder charges in the Sept. 14 death of Joshua Wilson, while Alan McLean faces allegations of second-degree assault.

Police initially arrested McLean, 35, for investigation of second-degree murder, as well, but prosecutors filed the lesser charge Friday in Snohomish County Superior Court. Deputy prosecutor Jarett Goodkin noted in court papers that he could later file the murder charge against McLean if new evidence comes to light.

On Sept. 14, Myers-Barnes, McLean and Wilson, 29, used drugs together, according to the charges.

At one point, Myers-Barnes was driving while McLean and Wilson sat together in the backseat. McLean punched Wilson numerous times in the face, prosecutors allege. The charges don’t lay out a reason why he did this.

Myers-Barnes stopped the car in the 18800 block of Yew Way, and got out, along with Wilson, who tried to run away, according to a police report. Myers-Barnes shot him in the back four times and twice in the head, prosecutors allege. The motive for the shooting was also unclear.

On surveillance footage from a nearby home, police could hear a cluster of seven bullets fired, according to court documents.

McLean reportedly later told police he was afraid of Myers-Barnes.

Not long after, a man was driving on Yew Way when he had to swerve to avoid Wilson’s body. The man thought a car had hit Wilson, but Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies found bullet wounds on his body, according to court papers.

It took investigators days to tie Myers-Barnes and McLean to Wilson’s death.

Later the morning of the shooting, around 8 a.m., a deputy was investigating an unrelated call of squatters on private property near the Money Creek Campground west of Skykomish. When he got to the property, he found an RV, a Mercedes-Benz SUV and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Myers-Barnes’ girlfriend was there and talked to the deputy, who believed Myers-Barnes was hiding in the RV.

After the deputy left, he ran into Myers-Barnes driving away, according to court papers. He pulled Myers-Barnes over. McLean was riding in the passenger seat. The deputy explained their campsite was on private property and they needed to move their stuff.

After this, the deputy met with a detective in Skykomish, who explained police were investigating Wilson’s killing.

On Sept. 23, a sheriff’s deputy pulled Myers-Barnes over for an unrelated traffic violation while he drove the Mercedes SUV. After reportedly finding a gun, deputies arrested the suspect, a convicted felon, for investigation of unlawful firearm possession. At the time of his arrest, Myers-Barnes had Wilson’s debit card in his wallet, according to the charges. In the car, they found Wilson’s phone.

Police believe the gun they found was the one Myers-Barnes allegedly used to shoot Wilson.

Investigators arrested McLean a few days later.

Both defendants were arraigned Monday in Superior Court.

On Tuesday, Myers-Barnes remained in the Snohomish County Jail with bail set at $2.55 million. McLean remained in jail with bail set at $250,000. When police initially booked him, a judge set bail at $1 million, but prosecutors noted that should be reduced given they didn’t charge him with murdering Wilson.

McLean, of Sultan, has one previous felony conviction, for second-degree assault in 2013, court records show. Myers-Barnes has convictions for possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle and unlawful firearm possession.

Court papers list addresses for Myers-Barnes in Brier, Snohomish and Lynnwood.

An obituary noted Wilson “lived, loved, and breathed music, the Rocky Mountains, traveling, intense Bible study and camping.”

“He was brave, honest, dependable and a hard worker,” the obituary stated. “He is well loved and will truly be missed.”

Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com; X: @GoldsteinStreet.