Suspect arrested in 2017 Everett shooting over $5 in gas

The wanted man was caught in California. He was booked Tuesday into the Snohomish County Jail.

EVERETT — A shooting suspect who evaded Everett police for 3½ years was booked into the Snohomish County Jail on Tuesday.

Everett detectives were alerted in early May that Justin Bell, 31, was arrested in California, Everett officer Kerby Duncan said. He has since been extradited.

Bell is accused of shooting a passenger in his carpool group on Dec. 14, 2017, outside a Value Village on Evergreen Way.

Gunfire left the other man with wounds to his arm, ankle and buttocks, according to charging papers filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.

Police later learned the wounded man was annoyed that day because he was the only person who reliably paid $5 for gas money in his carpool group.

He reported he got in a fight with Bell, the carpool driver, and that there was yelling and shoving. Then the passenger decided “the issue wasn’t worth a fight,” so he walked away, wrote deputy prosecutor Wallace Langbehn.

Police believe Bell got into a Black Hyundai, and he appeared to be the only person in the car. The car traveled along Evergreen at a speed much slower than other traffic, then stopped with the driver’s side window rolled down. On security camera footage from nearby businesses, the victim and his girlfriend ducked “in an obvious reaction to gunfire,” according to the charges.

The Hyundai sped off faster than other traffic. The wounded man fell. He had suffered three gunshot wounds. A doctor told investigators “the victim had a significant potential for imminent deterioration,” the prosecutor wrote.

Several witnesses called 911 to report what they had seen.

Officers recovered shell casings for 9 mm ammunition at the shooting scene. Records showed Bell owned three guns, including a 9 mm Luger pistol, the charges say.

Court records show Bell had no felony history.

Police reportedly received a pair of phone calls from the suspect a few months later, in February and March 2018. In the first call, he told police he was worried that one of his guns had been used in a crime, the charges say. In the second call, he reportedly denied knowing about a fight and claimed it “might have been someone else.” He told officers he didn’t know the other man, and that he’d never given him a ride.

Bell also told police he’d moved to California in December.

Felony charges were filed in March 2019 while the suspect remained at large. At the time, prosecutors asked for $100,000 bail.

“The allegations in this case are that the defendant fired several rounds from a pistol across a busy street, during the day, and hit the victim three times,” Langbehn wrote. “The defendant’s utter disregard for safety demands bail be set in this matter.”

Everett police released no other details about the circumstances of the arrest in May.

Bell was booked into the Snohomish County Jail early Tuesday to face charges of first-degree assault. He now has a tentative trial date set in early July.

Caleb Hutton: 425-339-3454; chutton@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snocaleb.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Everett
Judge sentences man, 73, for intending to have sex with ‘teen’ in Everett

The Arizona man sent explicit images to an agent posing as a 13-year-old. Investigators found images of child sexual abuse on his phone.

State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment

Residents can submit public comments or climate-related stories online through Aug. 22.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The Edmonds School Board discusses budget cuts during a school board meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds school board approves 2025-26 budget

After facing an estimated $8.5 million shortfall earlier in the year, the board passed a balanced budget Tuesday.

A wall diagram shows the “journey of the ballot” at the new Elections Center on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Auditor: No need for feds to meddle with state or local elections

Garth Fell’s comments were in response to a report of Justice Department mulling criminal charges against election officials.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

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.