Police officials investigate a shooting at Daleway Park Tuesday afternoon in Lynnwood on April 4, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Police officials investigate a shooting at Daleway Park Tuesday afternoon in Lynnwood on April 4, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Lynnwood gunman gets 28 years in fatal shooting of senior bystander

Raven Lonewarrior, 24, and Leif Smith, 22, were sentenced in the fatal shooting of Daleway Park park visitor Carl Bridgmon, 70.

EVERETT — Two men responsible for an attempted drug deal that ended with a 70-year-old bystander shot to death in Daleway Park were sentenced last week to starkly contrasting prison terms.

Superior Court Judge Paul Thompson ordered Raven Lonewarrior to serve 28 years behind bars Thursday after he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the slaying of Carl Bridgmon, 70.

On Friday, Thompson sentenced Leif Smith to 5 years for possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture or deliver — the maximum allowed under state law, taking into account what’s known as a “deadly weapon” sentencing enhancement.

Prosecutors initially charged Smith with first-degree murder. But late last year, Smith pleaded guilty and prosecutors dropped the murder charge when he agreed to help police investigate his accomplice.

Lonewarrior’s defense attorney Christine Olson declined to comment.

Lonewarrior, now 24, and Smith, 22, were selling marijuana to teenagers, both 18, in Lynnwood at the time of the incident.

Around 2 p.m. April 5, 2022, Smith arranged a drug exchange with two teen boys in Daleway Park at 19015 64th Ave., charging papers said. Lonewarrior accompanied Smith to the meet up.

At the exchange, one of the boys met with the defendants in their black sedan while the other stood outside, according to the charges. In a police interview, the boys said Smith was in the driver’s seat and Lonewarrior was in the rear passenger seat. One of the teens asked Smith if he could see the bag of marijuana to determine its quality, but told investigators the man was “acting weird” and wouldn’t let him, charges said.

After an argument broke out, the two men attacked the teenager, according to the boy’s account.

The boy screamed for help from his friend standing outside the car. He broke free from the vehicle and the two teens ran, according to court documents.

As the teens fled from the car, Lonewarrrior got out and fired 12 rounds from a Cugir Draco 7.62×39 mm gun. The defendant missed his intended targets, instead fatally striking Bridgmon, who was parked in his vehicle nearby. Police found the gun belonged to Smith, court documents said.

Witnesses reported seeing the sedan drive away from the scene, according to the charges.

Officers arrived in the parking lot to find Bridgmon deceased in the driver’s seat of a black Chevrolet Impala. There were several bullet holes in the driver’s side door and in several other nearby unoccupied vehicles.

Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Bridgmon died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Lynnwood police found Bridgmon witnessed the struggle before the shooting. He began filming with his phone and eventually caught his own death on camera, charging papers said.

It took weeks for police to track down the suspects. In May 2022, police arrested Smith as he drove away from his Marysville home. Five months later, investigators arrested Lonewarrior.

Bridgmon frequented the small forested park near Highway 99 several times a week, according to a statement from his family. He liked to enjoy a cup of coffee there.

“There are few cases with a more sympathetic victim than Mr. Bridgmon,” deputy prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “He was a 70-year-old retiree enjoying a sunny, spring afternoon in a community park. He is the prototypical innocent bystander.”

Maya Tizon: 425-339-3434; maya.tizon@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @mayatizon.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Lynnwood
Lynnwood police: 1 suspect in custody, 1 at large after attempted carjacking

Beverly Elementary School went into a precautionary lockdown Thursday afternoon. Numerous officers continue to search for the second suspect.

Candidates announce campaigns for Everett city council seat

Ryan Crowther, founder of the Everett Music Initiative, will challenge incumbent Paula Rhyne for the District 2 seat.

Lynnwood City Council Vice President Julieta Crosby speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood picks top eight candidates to replace former council VP

The City Council will make its final decision Feb. 20 after interview process.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.