EVERETT — A Snohomish County jury wasn’t convinced a former Central Washington University student fatally shot a teen in self-defense, but jurors also weren’t convinced he committed murder.
The jury on Monday acquitted Bryce Fortier, 23, of murder and manslaughter in the 2007 shooting death of Christopher Chandler.
Chandler, 18, died a year ago today outside a Mill Creek-area house during a Halloween party. Fortier admitted that he shot Chandler, claiming he was being attacked.
Jurors began deliberating Friday afternoon after hearing two weeks of testimony. They reached a decision before noon Monday.
Fortier embraced his father in a bear hug after hearing the jury’s verdict. He had called his father just minutes after the shooting. He told his dad he’d pulled the trigger in self-defense.
“I knew he was not guilty. He told me what happened,” Andrew Fortier said. “It was 100 percent obvious it was self-defense.”
Jurors on Monday made it clear they weren’t convinced the shooting was justifiable as self-defense.
After acquitting Fortier of the criminal charges, the panel was asked to decide if the defense had proved the shooting was justified. If it were, Fortier would have been reimbursed for his legal costs. In a separate verdict, jurors voted 11-1 that the shooting was not justifiable.
Their decision left both sides confused.
Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Sherry King and defense attorney Pete Mazzone said they weren’t sure why the jury would reach what appeared to be opposing decisions. Jurors did not speak with the attorneys or reporters after rendering Monday’s verdict.
The way the case was filed, jurors could only have voted for second-degree murder if they were convinced that Fortier killed Chandler while the gunman also was committing second-degree assault by pointing a handgun his way. Jurors could have found Fortier guilty of first-degree manslaughter if they thought his conduct was fatally reckless. They also were allowed to consider second-degree manslaughter, which required prosecutors to prove Fortier had been negligent in his conduct the night Chandler died.
King had alleged that Fortier, who was dressed as a pirate, pointed the gun at an unarmed Chandler because he was upset about being assaulted earlier in the night. She said Fortier brought a loaded handgun to an underage drinking party and was acting as an “enforcer” for the party’s hosts. King disputed his self-defense claim, saying Fortier wasn’t being assaulted when he pulled the gun on Chandler.
Fortier testified that he was being severely beaten for the second time that night and feared for his life when he shot Chandler. He said he felt that he didn’t have any other option.
Andrew Fortier said he believes charges never should have been filed against his son. He believes emotions clouded objective decision making. In the meantime, his son was kicked out of school and subjected to house arrest. The Seattle father said he’s spent thousands of dollars on legal bills over the past year, he said.
“This weighs heavily on him. He knows in his heart of hearts they were going to kill him,” Andrew Fortier said. “I also want to say I’m so sorry to the Chandler family. So is my son and my wife. We pray for them every day. There are no winners in this verdict.”
Bryce Fortier declined to comment.
Chandler’s family and friends crowded the courtroom Monday. Many left weeping and shaking their heads in disbelief.
“It’s unbelievable. Either verdict wasn’t going to bring Chris back, but we thought (Fortier) should have to pay for what he did,” Chandler’s cousin Christa Long said. “It started with a huge injustice and ended with a huge injustice.”
Long lingered in the courtroom and watched Fortier and his family celebrate.
“It just doesn’t seem fair. They get to hug him. What do we get?” she asked.
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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