EVERETT — An Everett homicide suspect reportedly told police he was jobless and facing eviction, so he decided to rob the mini-mart in his neighborhood.
Michealob Johnson, 25, is accused of killing the clerk and slashing a knife at a witness’ throat. The witness broke the weapon apart as she fought off the attacker.
Johnson is being held in jail for investigation of aggravated first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and first-degree robbery.
The suspect had shopped at the Food Mart in the 6900 block of Broadway a half-dozen or so times before, according to his statements to police.
He walked into the store around 10 p.m., according to what he reported to police.
“Johnson said hello to the man, then drew his knife and stabbed the store owner in the neck with a large dagger,” according to the police report.
The suspect recounted trying to open up the register, then taking keys and cash from the clerk’s wallet. He heard a bell ring and saw a woman come inside, according to police.
“He said he did not want to kill her at that point, only to scare her, except that she had seen his face and he considered that he had to kill her too,” police wrote.
Johnson grabbed her and slashed toward her neck, according to the court records. But she got a hold of the knife and broke it in half. They fought, and he pulled off her sweatshirt. He held onto her in the fight until they scuffled out the door — and he saw she had a friend waiting in a truck outside, Johnson reportedly said.
The woman dropped the broken knife, and Johnson grabbed it and reassembled it. She had suffered cuts to her chin and right ring finger.
According to police, the suspect allegedly “considered that he might have to kill both the female and the male outside, but Johnson eventually ran away to his residence.”
Johnson lived about three blocks from the scene of the killing. As police dogs searched the neighborhood, he told a roommate what had happened and asked him to call 911, court records say. Johnson waited to be arrested.
After being advised of his rights, he told detectives he’d been stressed and depressed, according to court records. He told police he’d lost two jobs, couldn’t find a new job and couldn’t pay rent.
Court records suggest Johnson had no criminal record in Washington.
The identity of the clerk has not been released.
Everett District Court Judge Anthony Howard found probable cause to hold the suspect in jail Wednesday.
Howard set bail at $5 million.
Caleb Hutton: 425-339-3454; chutton@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snocaleb.
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