EVERETT — Authorities believe a man fatally shot his neighbor through their shared wall at an Everett apartment complex while the other man was asleep.
Around 1:15 a.m. Thursday, a man called 911 to report his friend had been shot at Erwin Estates Apartment Complex in the 8200 block of 11th Drive W. Police entered the bedroom and reportedly found a man in his 40s with gunshot wounds to the head. He was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett where he later died.
Police reportedly found bullet holes in the wall the slain man shared with his neighbor. When they confronted his next-door neighbor Jeremy Jones, he immediately surrendered and was detained, according to police. Officers found a long gun and a pistol in the apartment.
Early Wednesday morning, Jones had made a 911 call to report the victim pounding on the shared wall, yelling threats. Jones reportedly armed himself out of fear for his safety. But when law enforcement arrived, they found the victim sleeping. Police believed Jones may have been having a mental health crisis.
At his bail hearing Friday, where the deceased man’s family was present, the prosecution suggested bail of $1 million pending charges of second-degree murder. Based on the 911 call from the night before, the prosecution believes Jones knew he was shooting into the occupied bedroom. The state noted the layout of the other apartment is an exact model of Jones’ one-bedroom unit.
Jones’ defense attorney argued bail should be set at $10,000 on a potential charge of manslaughter, arguing “it’s just as likely that this is an accidental discharge of a firearm” that led to the other man’s death. The defense claimed there was no way Jones could have known anyone was on the other side of the wall if the neighbor was sleeping and not making any noise. The defense noted Jones had been struggling with mental health issues.
Everett District Court Judge Tam Bui set bail at $1 million, out of concern for Jones possibly committing another violent crime. Bui also ordered Jones turn over any firearms to police and to have no contact with the neighbor’s family.
The deceased man’s identity had not been publicly released as of Friday.
Maya Tizon; 425-339-3434, maya.tizon@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @mayatizon.
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