A Seattle man, 27, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and robbery in a plot to steal drugs, police report.
SEATTLE — Police have arrested a suspect in connection to a homicide in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood that authorities said began as a plot to steal drugs.
The 27-year-old Seattle man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery.
The arrest was in connection to a deadly shooting on April 9 that killed a 41-year-old man.
Police responded to an apartment at Fourth Avenue and Battery Street about 5:33 a.m. and found the man with a gunshot wound to the head. The man died the following day.
A witness told police that he was in the apartment’s loft when he heard three men enter the unit and demand money. One of the men – later identified as the 27-year-old suspect – went to the loft and allegedly hit the witness’ head with the butt of a rife and demanded money.
The witness heard a gunshot below.
The witness told police the 27-year-old suspect took their phone and a bag with drug paraphernalia before leaving with the other suspects.
On April 10, police detained two people in a separate incident, one of whom was later identified as the 27-year-old. The other detained male told police the 27-year-old admitted he was involved in the Belltown homicide.
In an interview with police, the 27-year-old said he and two other men went to the apartment to steal 2 kilograms of fentanyl. The other two men were armed with handguns, and the 27-year-old had a rifle, the suspect told police.
The 27-year-old told police he went to the loft to confront the witness, who he hit with his gun. The 27-year-old said he heard one of the other suspects say, “He has a gun,” before hearing a shot.
The witness’ description of the suspect who hit him with a gun matched the 27-year-old, police said.
After the incident, the 27-year-old said they drove to the Sandpoint neighborhood, where officers later found a 9mm Glock handgun in the bushes.
Video of the area shows the 27-year-old searching in the bushes with another person.