EVERETT — Police on Thursday said they’re looking for an Everett man suspected in a Monday morning shooting death in south Everett.
They fear the suspect, James Richard “Rick” Prizmich, 45, may be armed and dangerous.
Detectives believe Prizmich, a convicted felon, may be responsible for killing Cory Hamilton, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.
Prizmich is well known to Everett police. He’s the same man they arrested in February for allegedly firing a camouflage-painted SKS assault rifle with a multi-round banana clip in a city park in the Lowell neighborhood.
While being booked into jail for that incident, corrections officers found a small piece of metal hidden in Prizmich’s mouth, part of his belt that they suspected he hoped to use as a tool for escape, court papers said.
He’s awaiting trail on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm as well as for a January incident in which he allegedly drove 80 mph trying to flee police.
Now, Prizmich also will have to answer questions about his alleged connection to Monday’s shooting death, officials said.
Officers found Hamilton, 38, dead on the ground in front of a house in the 2400 block of 75th Street SE. Police had been to the home for a variety of problems in the past.
“Witness provided us information about the crime,” Goetz said.
The evidence pointed to Prizmich. Detectives now have probable cause to arrest him for investigation of second-degree murder, Goetz said.
On Wednesday, police tried to arrest Prizmich near Quil Ceda Village on the Tulalip reservation. He apparently wasn’t there when police arrived.
Police believe Prizmich is aware that they are looking for him, Goetz said.
Police also are looking for a gray 2003 Toyota Tundra stepside pickup truck with 22-inch chrome rims, tinted windows, black step rails and Washington license plate, A39233S.
Hamilton had permission to drive the truck to the home where he was killed, Goetz said. The truck, which has since been reported stolen, wasn’t there when police arrived Monday. Detectives want to examine the truck for evidence.
It’s not known if Prizmich has the truck, Goetz said.
Prizmich has a criminal history dating back to 1979, starting when he was 16. He has six prior felony convictions and at least 10 misdemeanors, records show.
Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies arrested Prizmich on Jan. 30 in connection with the eluding. He was in possession of heroin near the home where Monday’s homicide victim was found, records show.
Less than two weeks later, on Feb. 10, Prizmich was arrested again in Everett’s Lowell Park. Someone called police after they saw a man in a black trench coat firing a weapon and shouting expletives. Police found Prizmich hiding in the bushes, smelling of gun powder. Less than 100 yards away, a police dog tracked down the assault-style rifle, the documents said.
A short time later, when corrections officers at the Snohomish County Jail booked Prizmich, they found a bent piece of metal hidden inside his mouth, documents said. Prizmich, who has four prior escape convictions, may have been intending to use the piece of metal to try to get away.
If anyone sees Prizmich, they should call 911 immediately.
“Do not attempt to detain this suspect,” Goetz said.
Prizmich is described as white with brown hair and brown eyes, 6 foot, 2 inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds.
