EVERETT — Prosecutors have charged a man with second-degree manslaughter in a fatal pellet gun shooting last month in south Everett.
Court papers describe Zeke Smith’s relationship to Alexander Moseid, 33, as a “friend of a friend.”
Around 6 a.m. Feb. 8, Smith arrived in a car to a house in the 7500 block of Juniper Drive, according to the charges. He banged on the front door and windows, reportedly trying to contact someone who lived there. Moseid was staying in the home.
Two of the housemates and Moseid agreed not to let Smith in. One of them reportedly came out to tell Smith he needed to leave. The person he was looking for wasn’t home, according to the charges.
Smith left, but showed up again shortly after. This time, Moseid came out armed with a pellet gun to confront him, the charges say.
Witnesses reported hearing Moseid and Smith, 38, yelling. Security footage reportedly showed Moseid and Smith going to the side of the house, out of view from cameras. A pop could be heard on the recording. The two men left the property.
Around 6:45 a.m., witnesses saw the two men walking south on Juniper Drive. Moseid walked behind Smith, repeatedly yelling “get out of here,” according to the charges.
Smith said he needed his backpack, witnesses reported.
Meanwhile, Moseid called 911, but never spoke with an operator. The call documented “two men yelling” for over a minute, the charges say.
“Why can’t we just stop and — ” one man reportedly said.
“You’re a lying (expletive),” another man said.
The defendant called the nonemergency line, reporting the alleged intruder couldn’t breathe.
The dispatcher asked Moseid to describe the person in distress.
“He’s a piece of (expletive),” he reportedly said.
Moseid, wearing an orange puffer jacket, flagged down officers as they arrived, court documents say. The defendant denied knowing the injured person, according to court documents. He left the scene.
Officers found Smith lying on the side of the street, with a phone resting on his face. Medics performed CPR. He died at the scene.
Officers found no “external injuries,” according to the charges, initially believing Smith was “suffering from the effects of narcotics,” the charges say.
An autopsy later found a gunshot wound to his torso, according to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office.
One of the housemates told investigators Moseid returned back to the house with a pellet gun in hand, and admitted to shooting Smith, prosecutors allege.
Around 2 p.m., police arrested Moseid at the Juniper Road home. On the staircase, investigators found an orange puffer jacket and a “break action” pellet rifle, police wrote.
Moseid had several warrants out for his arrest for criminal mischief, a gross misdemeanor. He had no felony convictions.
The defendant remained behind bars Tuesday with bail set at $15,000.
According to state law, first-degree manslaughter implies someone “recklessly” caused the death of another person. Second-degree manslaughter means someone caused a death “with criminal negligence.”
Maya Tizon: 425-339-3434; maya.tizon@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @mayatizon.
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