BOTHELL, Wash. — Major Crimes Unit detectives arrested a suspect in connection to a homicide in Bothell on Friday night.
The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office responded at about 11:15 p.m. Friday for reports of a person down in a Safeway parking lot in the 20700 block of Bothell Everett Highway.
Deputies found a 42-year-old man lying face down in the parking lot. Emergency crews tried to resuscitate the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unclear what led up to the victim's death.
Witnesses told detectives they heard a "pop sound" at the time of the shooting. While investigating the homicide detectives learned of several text messages from the victim about selling drugs.
Police said the suspect knew of the victim's possession of drugs and his desire to sell them. A witness told police the victim always left the house with all of his drugs but police found no drugs in the Safeway parking lot.
Investigators determined the suspect was known to the victim and arrested a 49-year-old in connection to the homicide.
According to court documents, a witness told investigators that the suspect said, "I shot him." Officials believe the 49-year-old was the last person to see the victim before his death, court documents detailed.
The suspect's first appearance in court was Monday afternoon. He will be booked for second-degree murder, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office will identify the victim and their cause and manner of death.
