From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Fri Jul 11 2008 - 10:32:09 EDT
Published: Thursday, July 10, 2008
Lynnwood man a suspect in fatal shooting of cousin
It's not clear what prompted the killing of a Lynnwood man found dead in a
car Tuesday.
By Jackson Holtz
Herald Writer
LYNNWOOD -- Police believe a Lynnwood man fatally shot his cousin twice in
the head early Tuesday after a night of drinking and meeting women,
according to court documents released Wednesday.
Police arrested Filmon T. Habtemariam, 26, shortly after finding Tekelet T.
Habtemariam, 27, of Lynnwood, dead around 2 a.m. Tuesday slumped over in a
car in the 14500 block of Admiralty Way in front of the Tamaron Ranch
apartments.
It's not yet clear what prompted the killing.
A witness, who was with the men during the night and saw the shooting, told
detectives about the events leading up to the gunfire, according to a police
affidavit filed in Everett District Court. The witness told police he
believed the men were cousins.
The three men met up at a popular Everett country western bar to try to meet
women, the court documents said.
The three left together and Tekelet Habtemariam agreed to give Filmon
Habtemariam a ride home to his apartment on Admiralty Way. Everything seemed
normal during the drive from Everett to Lynnwood, the witness told police.
The man who would later be arrested sat in the back talking on a cell phone
while the witness sat up front and the man who later died drove.
As the car slowed down, the witness heard a bang and saw Filmon Habtemariam
holding a handgun. There was a second shot and then Habtemariam fled, the
documents said.
Detective found a semiautomatic handgun in the bushes of the complex and
recovered clothing that appeared to be bloodstained after searching
Habtemariam's apartment.
After being arrested, Habtemariam told police, "I'm drunk and my drunk is
going away," the court documents said. Police said the man smelled of
intoxicants. The man allegedly told detectives he was involved in the drug
trade and being detained by police was costing him money, the documents
said.
Habtemariam had nearly $1,500 cash with him when he was arrested. He refused
to talk to detectives about the shooting.
The cousins both have a history of drug convictions, according to court
records.
On Wednesday, Habtemariam refused to leave his jail cell to appear in court
for a bail hearing. A judge was expected to order the man to make his court
date today.
*
Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.*
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