SEATTLE — The man charged with first-degree murder in a deadly shooting in Rainier Beach earlier this month made his first court appearance Wednesday.
Ryan Smith, 33, pleaded not guilty in King County court. He is facing 20 years in prison if convicted and remains in custody on a $3 million bond.
According to police, Smith shot 55-year-old Jason Tuttle point blank in the head over a small disagreement on Nov. 11.
Family and friends of Tuttle issued witness impact statements for Wednesday's hearing asking the court to deny bail. The statements said Smith has "shown that he will recklessly commit cold-blooded offenses."
His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2024.
The prosecuting attorney for the case, Lauren Burke, noted in the charging documents Tuttle was apologizing to Smith right before being shot, calling it a "cold-blooded murder." She wrote Smith posed a significant safety risk to the community.
The shooting happened at 9840 Martin Luther King Junior Way South, which is a vacant paved lot.
The lot's owners told police they heard a gunshot and saw Smith holding a gun and Tuttle falling to the ground. They later called 911 after driving away from the scene.
The surveillance video captured what police called a "mild argument" between Tuttle and Smith and there was no physical fighting leading up to the shooting.
Smith fled the scene with his cousin, who told detectives the suspect was acting as if nothing had happened.
Officers arrested Smith a few hours later after reviewing the surveillance video footage, which showed Smith's white Cadillac Escalade.
Tuttle died due to a gunshot wound to the head three days after the shooting.