BOTHELL — A Woodinville man killed a man Friday night in an apparent drug robbery north of Bothell, authorities said.
Around 11:15 p.m., Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies found a man, 42, unresponsive in the parking lot of the Safeway at 20711 Bothell Everett Highway, according to a police report. The man was wearing a sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head and a baseball cap.
First responders performed CPR on the man, but he reportedly died at the scene. Initially, deputies didn’t notice any injuries.
It was only when the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of his body that investigators there found a small wound on the back of his head, along with holes in his hood and hat, according to the police report.
This led police to believe the man had been killed. The deceased hadn’t been publicly identified, as of Monday.
While looking through the man’s phone to find a next of kin to notify, authorities found a few text messages worth noting, according to court papers.
“Hey my guy are you good I need like a zipper clear maybe a zip and a half and some fettywap g,” one text reportedly read. “Clear” refers to methamphetamine and “fettywap” refers to fentanyl, according to the police report.
Deputies believe the man was dealing drugs.
On the night of his death, the man left his home with all the drugs he had, according to court documents. He went to race RC cars with a friend just off Highway 522 near Maltby.
Just before 10 p.m., the man went outside, the friend told investigators. He talked to a Woodinville man, 49, driving a black Toyota Sequoia. The friend overheard the man agree to sell all his drugs to the Sequoia driver for $1,900, according to court papers. The man got in the Sequoia and left. The friend followed in his car.
The friend reportedly followed for about 5 miles, until they parked at the Safeway on Bothell Everett Highway. He watched as the Sequoia’s passenger door opened, someone got out and the SUV drove away.
The friend drove up to the spot where the Sequoia had been parked. He found his friend lying on the ground, according to police. He fled. Too scared to call police, he stayed out all night.
Investigators found no drugs on the man’s body, according to court documents. They believe the Woodinville man stole them.
Detectives determined the Sequoia was registered to the Woodinville man. A witness later told investigators the Woodinville man acknowledged shooting the other man.
Investigators arrested the Woodinville man for investigation of second-degree murder. On Monday, he remained in the Snohomish County Jail.
Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com; X: @GoldsteinStreet.
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