EVERETT — An Everett man died Feb. 5, days after he was shot by his friend while they were hanging out.
On Thursday, prosecutors charged Stefan Deremer, 32, with second-degree murder in Shane Bryant’s death. Deremer was originally arrested for investigation of first-degree assault.
Deremer, Bryant and Bryant’s girlfriend were reportedly drinking together on the morning of Feb. 1, at the suspect’s apartment in the 10700 block of Evergreen Way. The girlfriend, who had been with Bryant for 12 years, told police Deremer took Xanax and “blues” — slang for fentanyl pills.
Bryant and his girlfriend sat on one couch in the living room. Deremer lounged on another.
Just before 9:30 a.m., Deremer and Bryant started arguing about someone named “Bobby,” according to the charges filed in Snohomish County Superior Court. The argument wasn’t physical. Neither man was that heated either, the girlfriend reported.
But out of nowhere, the suspect pulled out a black-and-silver semiautomatic gun, according to court documents. He’s accused of then shooting Bryant in the face. The victim and his girlfriend didn’t have time to flinch or move out of the way, she told police.
The bullet reportedly went through Bryant’s head and lodged in the nearby TV. Deremer got off the couch, walked over to the girlfriend and put his arms around her. He apologized and said he didn’t know the gun was loaded, according to court papers. He asked her not to call police.
Covered in blood, she ran out of the apartment and called authorities.
First-responders arrived and found Deremer “cradling” Bryant in his arms, according to a police report. He was covered in blood.
Officers recovered the gun from the scene.
Bryant was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, according to court records. Hospital staff were concerned Bryant’s gunshot wound was “non-survivable,” according to a police report. He had surgery to repair brain damage.
Bryant was then taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he died. He was 31. Bryant was born in Juneau, Alaska, according to an obituary. He enjoyed snowboarding and cooking. He loved animals.
“Shane was a generous, kind, compassionate soul who loved others deeply and always saw the best in everyone he met,” the obituary reads. “Shane loved to laugh but most of all to make others laugh. He brought light into all of the many hearts that he touched. Those who were blessed enough to have known him for the short time he was with us, know that there are no words to describe what a wonderful man he was.”
Deremer was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm because he was convicted of previous felonies: residential burglary and taking a motor vehicle without permission in 2016. In that case, Deremer was accused of running from police. When officers caught him, he laughed and said, “Well, you finally got me,” according to court documents.
He was sentenced to 13 months in jail. As a minor, Deremer was also convicted of second-degree robbery in King County.
In September, the suspect was arrested for investigation of pointing a BB gun in his girlfriend’s face and threatening to shoot her, deputy prosecutor Melissa Samp wrote in the charging papers. And when he was arrested earlier this month, he reportedly had an active warrant from 2019 for alleged malicious mischief. Deremer has 36 other warrants for failing to appear in court, as well, Samp wrote.
He was in custody Friday at the Snohomish County Jail with bail set at $1 million.
Jake Goldstein-Street:
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
