Simeon Berkley, 74, walks out of the Snohomish County Courthouse in Everett after his arraignment on Aug. 14. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file)

Simeon Berkley, 74, walks out of the Snohomish County Courthouse in Everett after his arraignment on Aug. 14. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file)

Everett man accused of road rage killing returns to jail

After his arraignment in Superior Court, Simeon Berkley had to re-up his bond or report to jail.

EVERETT — Simeon Berkley, who allegedly shot a man twice in the head during an apparent road rage dispute, is back behind bars according to records from the Snohomish County Jail.

Berkley, 74, is charged with second-degree murder for the July 6 killing of Steven Whitemarsh. According to charging papers, Berkley slammed on his brakes to intentionally cause Whitemarsh to rear-end him. Berkley then got out of his car, walked up to the other car, and shot Whitemarsh through an open window, prosecutors allege.

Witnesses reportedly said Berkley lingered at the scene, and that he appeared “excessively calm and emotionless.”

Berkley made a brief statement to an officer.

“I’ll make your job easy, it was self defense,” he reportedly said. “He was chasing me.”

At an arraignment on Aug. 14, Berkley pleaded not guilty.

Five days later, Berkley reportedly turned himself in to the Snohomish County Jail.

He apparently didn’t meet new bail provisions required by the Superior Court.

He previously had posted $750,000 bond in July, while his case was still in Everett District Court.

Berkley could face up to 23 years in prison according to state guidelines.

In 1991, he shot and paralyzed a man after a near-crash on a freeway in San Diego County, according to a story in the Los Angeles Times. Berkley claimed self-defense in that case, too. A jury acquitted him of attempted murder, but provided a warning.

“You keep that gun out of your car,” an unidentified juror told him, according to the Times story. “We didn’t feel that what you did was right at all, but we had to follow the law.”

Whitemarsh was described as a well-liked manager at a Safeway in Everett and the father of three kids.

“You were his friend the second you met him and he always had a smile on his face,” his family wrote in a statement.

Zachariah Bryan: 425-339-3431; zbryan@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @zachariahtb.

Talk to us

More in Local News

FILE - A sign hangs at a Taco Bell on May 23, 2014, in Mount Lebanon, Pa. Declaring a mission to liberate "Taco Tuesday" for all, Taco Bell asked U.S. regulators Tuesday, May 16, 2023, to force Wyoming-based Taco John's to abandon its longstanding claim to the trademark. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Hepatitis A confirmed in Taco Bell worker in Everett, Lake Stevens

The health department sent out a public alert for diners at two Taco Bells on May 22 or 23.

VOLLI’s Director of Food & Beverage Kevin Aiello outside of the business on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coming soon to Marysville: indoor pickleball, games, drinks

“We’re very confident this will be not just a hit, but a smash hit,” says co-owner Allan Jones, who is in the fun industry.

Everett
Detectives: Unresponsive baby was exposed to fentanyl at Everett hotel

An 11-month-old boy lost consciousness Tuesday afternoon. Later, the infant and a twin sibling both tested positive for fentanyl.

Cassie Franklin (left) and Nick Harper (right)
Report: No wrongdoing in Everett mayor’s romance with deputy mayor

An attorney hired by the city found no misuse of public funds. Texts between the two last year, however, were not saved on their personal phones.

Firearm discovered by TSA officers at Paine Field Thursday morning, May 11, 2023, during routine X-ray screening at the security checkpoint. (Transportation Security Administration)
3 guns caught by TSA at Paine Field this month — all loaded

Simple travel advice: Unpack before you pack to make sure there’s not a gun in your carry-on.

Heavy traffic northbound on 1-5 in Everett, Washington on August 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
To beat the rush this Memorial Day weekend, go early or late

AAA projects busy airports, ferries and roads over the holiday weekend this year, though still below pre-pandemic counts.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Troopers: DUI crash leaves 1 in critical condition in Maltby

A drunken driver, 34, was arrested after her pickup rear-ended another truck late Tuesday, injuring a Snohomish man, 28.

Housing Hope CEO Donna Moulton raises her hand in celebration of the groundbreaking of the Housing Hope Madrona Highlands on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
$30M affordable housing project to start construction soon in Edmonds

Once built, dozens of families who are either homeless or in poverty will move in and receive social and work services.

Gary Fontes uprights a tree that fell over in front of The Fontes Manor — a miniature handmade bed and breakfast — on Friday, May 12, 2023, at his home near Silver Lake in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett’s mini-Frank Lloyd Wright builds neighborhood of extra tiny homes

A tiny lighthouse, a spooky mansion and more: Gary Fontes’ miniature world of architectural wonders is one-twelfth the size of real life.

Most Read