2:49 PM: The 67-year-old Gatewood man suspected in Saturday night’s deadly shooting in Morgan Junction has just appeared in a King County Jail courtroom for a bail hearing. The judge set his bail at $1 million, the amount requested by the prosecution, though the defense had asked for $50,000. Prosecutors say that he has a criminal history including armed robbery; the defense says that his record was in the ’80s, and his wife, who described him as disabled, told the court that he hasn’t had anything worse than a traffic ticket in the nearly 20 years they have been married. WSB and Channel 7 were the only media crews to cover the hearing; the judge ordered us not to show the suspect’s face (which would be against WSB policy until he is charged, anyway). No further details of the case were described in the hearing, but we expect probable-cause documents to be provided by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office shortly.
4:32 PM UPDATE: The “probable cause” documents are in. A transcription, ahead:
First, these documents say the suspect is 63, not 67 as prior information had indicated – apparently the older age is linked to at least one of the aliases that the documents say he has. Here’s the statement of probable cause:
(Suspect) was at the Feedback Lounge … He is a “regular” at the bar and is known to patrons. The victim … was also a patron at the bar. There was no obvious disturbance between the two men but witnesses reported seeing (suspect) “glaring” at the victim. When (victim) left the bar (suspect) followed him outside and approached him aggressively, according to witnesses. (Victim) armed himself with a shovel to defend himself from (suspect). (Suspect) then pulled out a handgun and shot (victim) four times in the chest. (Suspect) was then seen leaving the scene in a BMW with the plate of (… registered to [suspect]). .45 cal shell casings were recovered at the scene by officers. Witnesses ID’d the shooter to officers and the vehicle came back to his address. Officers responded to the address and located the suspect. A .45 cal. handgun was seen sitting on the table in the suspect’s residence. A warrant was obtained and the gun was recovered. When interviewed by homicide detectives he admitted after Miranda that the gun was his and it was in his car at the time of the shooting and that the casings recovered at the scene would most likely match his gun. (Victim) later died from his injuries.
(Suspect) has admitted to being convicted for bank robbery. A records check under the FBI # shows he was convicted for armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom, rape. It appears he has several convictions for armed robbery. He also has several AKA’s in the criminal justice system as well as multiple social security numbers.
That’s the entirely of what’s in the documentation just released. Next step, prosecutors will decide whether to file charges. One other note: These documents refer to the victim as Michael Hood, though friends say he went by the first name Travis.
Previous reports: Victim’s death confirmed (1/23/12 am); original Saturday night-Sunday coverage
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