A 39-year-old Everett man brought a handgun to the Marysville home of his brother's ex-wife because he wanted to scare her boyfriend "out of her life," according to court papers filed yesterday.
But police said that instead of just scaring the boyfriend, the man ended up shooting him repeatedly on Sunday after breaking into the couple's Marysville duplex.
James Michael Morrison, 39, of Everett, arrested following a seven-hour standoff in the woods north of Snohomish, also told investigators he didn't know how many shots he fired at Jay Harmon, according to documents filed Tuesday in Everett District Court.
Morrison was quoted as saying he had a full magazine in a .40-caliber Glock pistol he had purchased the previous week, "and I think I emptied it."
Prosecutors also wrote that he fired some shots at his former sister-in-law but missed and hit her in the head with the gun.
Judge Roger M. Fisher set bail at $1 million on Morrison, who remained in custody for investigation of first-degree murder, burglary, assault and animal cruelty.
Police found the body of the boyfriend, Jay Harmon, 36, in the bedroom of the home in the 1500 block of Fifth Avenue, which he shared with the woman and her two daughters. Police said the assailant also fatally shot the family dog and fired several rounds at the woman but missed her.
He also hit the woman in the head with his pistol, police said.
After the shooting, the man fled in his Ford Explorer, police said. While driving from the scene, the court papers allege, the man called his brother on his cellphone and told him he wouldn't have to worry about his ex-wife's boyfriend any longer.
Police said the man had taken issue with Harmon's relationship with the woman. They said the man called the woman's two daughters � his nieces � last week to make sure they would not be home during the weekend so he could confront Harmon.
On Sunday night, police found the man's Explorer near Snohomish and followed a trail of blood that led into the nearby woods. The man was arrested Monday after an eight-hour standoff, police said.
A handgun was found where the man was arrested, according to court documents.
The suspect made a brief court appearance yesterday in Everett District Court, where bail was set at $1 million.
Prosecutors plan to file criminal charges, including first-degree murder, first-degree assault and first-degree animal cruelty according to Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Mark Roe. Case UpdatesJames Michael Morrison pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he assaulted his former sister-in-law and shot her boyfriend to death. The Everett man is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jay Harmon, 36. Morrison is also charged with second-degree assault and first-degree burglary. He is being held in Snohomish County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
Morrison told detectives he wanted to scare Harmon so he would leave his brother's ex-wife, court documents say. He broke into his former sister-in-law's Marysville duplex Oct. 10, pistol-whipped her and shot Harmon several times, charging papers say. | Source: HeraldNet - Oct 29, 2004
Update posted on Nov 19, 2004 - 4:51AM |
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