EVERETT — A suspect in a homicide landed 10 to 20 blows with a shovel to the head of an ex-roommate, who later died from his injuries, witnesses told Everett police.
Sable Rodriguez, 32, in recent weeks was acting “erratic” to the point of making his roommates uneasy and alarmed, police wrote in reports filed Monday in Everett District Court. He was told to leave his home in the 7500 block of Juniper Drive on Saturday.
Two roommates reported it was the second time in a few weeks that he’d been kicked out. In the meantime, he was shot by a homeowner in an alleged burglary; made evidently baseless claims about having murdered someone; and told at least one person that he was “the chosen one.”
Rodriguez returned Sunday to the home on Juniper, where he got into an argument with a former roommate, also 32, near the back of a garage. Witnesses reported Rodriguez suddenly attacked the ex-roommate with a tool that looked like a wrench. The roommate grabbed a shovel to defend himself, but somehow Rodriguez wrestled it from him, according to Everett police.
The suspect beat the ex-roommate to the ground with the shovel, then continued to land blows to his head and neck.
One witness ran to the home to call police as Rodriguez reportedly fled in a dark green Honda Civic. Police arrived to find the man suffering from obvious head injuries. Officers did not risk moving the victim’s head or neck, according to the police reports.
The man died at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, the police department announced Wednesday.
The official cause and manner of death will be determined by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Detectives recovered the shovel, which had a round point and wooden handle, along the long narrow driveway near the open garage door.
Officers put out a public bulletin naming Rodriguez as a suspect Monday, along with a photo from his ID. He was arrested the same day in Vancouver, Washington, then booked into the Snohomish County Jail on Tuesday.
Snohomish County prosecutors charged Rodriguez in Superior Court on Wednesday with attempted murder in the first degree, domestic violence assault in the first degree, and domestic burglary in the first degree. Each charge carries a special allegation that the offense was committed with a deadly weapon.
District Court Judge Anthony Howard found probable cause on all three counts Wednesday. The judge ordered Rodriguez held in lieu of $1 million bail. If he’s able to post that amount, the judge ordered Rodriguez must be screened by a mental health professional prior to release.
Caleb Hutton: 425-339-3454; chutton@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snocaleb.
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