EVERETT — Police have arrested a third suspect in connection with an August home-invasion robbery and homicide at a south Everett apartment complex.
Derek N. Boyd, 31, was arrested Wednesday evening and booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree murder. He is accused of helping plan the robbery and driving the get-away car.
A bail hearing originally set for Thursday was moved to Friday at his attorney’s request.
Prosecutors allege that Eric “Icky” Lowe and Jeffrey “JK” Cleator kicked in the door to an apartment at 2 W. Casino Road to rob Alonzo Lopez-Gonzalez, a suspected heroin dealer. Lowe is accused of pistol-whipping the victim while demanding the man’s money.
Lopez-Gonzalez, 22, was shot in the back after either jumping or being pushed from a second-story balcony. The Snohomish County medical examiner determined that he was killed by a gunshot, but also suffered about 15 blows to the head.
Lowe is charged with first-degree murder. Cleator pleaded guilty to robbery and burglary charges.
Police allege that Boyd drove a gold 2001 Ford Taurus from the shooting scene.
“Unfortunately for these guys, they think just because they are only the driver they aren’t involved and they can’t be charged,” Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.
Detectives later obtained a search warrant for the car and found blood smears inside. The Washington State Patrol crime lab matched the blood to Lopez-Gonzalez, according to a police affidavit of probable cause.
Investigators also found that a cell phone belonging to Boyd was used to call Cleator’s cell phone immediately before and three times shortly after the shooting.
A witness told police he had been driving around central Everett with Boyd and Lowe earlier in the evening when they were talking about doing “a lick,” street slang for a robbery.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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