Man shot to death in yard after alleged parking-spot dispute

Published 1:30 am Monday, March 30, 2020

LYNNWOOD — A man was shot to death in a driveway Saturday night following a fight about a parking spot, according to a police report filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.

The dispute was at a house on 203rd Street Southwest in Lynnwood, about a quarter mile from Heritage Park. A 27-year-old man who lived there has been arrested for investigation of second-degree murder.

Around 10:45 p.m. Saturday, a woman came home to find a neighbor’s car parked in front of her house, according to court documents. She and two men walked next door to complain.

They knocked on the door and another man answered. After a while they began to yell at one another, and eventually one of the men who approached the home allegedly punched the neighbor, breaking his teeth.

The two reportedly began to fight and fell down stairs, and the man who was home broke a leg. Others from inside the house came outside, and a bigger fight started in the driveway and yard.

Someone recorded the fight, and detectives later watched the video. At one point, one of the men who knocked on the door yelled, “Go get my gun,” court papers say.

Officers didn’t see anyone with a firearm in the “short, dark video.”

Moments later, the suspected shooter was on the front porch of the house with an AR-15 style rifle, according to witnesses.

The man allegedly shot two rounds into the air and the fight broke up.

As people were fleeing, some reported hearing three to four more gunshots and saw the victim fall near the end of the driveway.

Detectives later found six spent .22-caliber casings in the street near the house.

One woman said the man “stiffened” and sagged to the ground. Blood was coming from his head, she told officers.

That’s when someone called 911.

Once detectives arrived, people pointed out who they thought was the shooter. He’s a known gang member, the deputy wrote.

The suspect told officers he didn’t have a gun or hear any shots fired that night.

“Asked when the last time he shot a gun? He said ‘months ago,’” according to the police report.

Detectives asked the suspect to provide a DNA sample, and he requested an attorney.

The man was arrested and booked into the Snohomish County Jail. Bail was set at $1 million on Monday.

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.