In the quiet community of Snohomish, Washington, the life of 59-year-old Robert M. Johnston, a male, came to a sudden and violent end on August 7, 2022. The tragic events unfolded at his residence located near the 6500 block of 57th Avenue SE, where he was shot. Despite the efforts of first responders, Johnston succumbed to a gunshot wound while being transported to a local hospital.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed the cause of death and ruled it a homicide.
The investigation into Johnston's death quickly focused on a suspect close to home: his 30-year-old son, James Johnston. On the morning of the shooting, a 911 call was made by Robert Johnston's other son, who reported that his brother, James, had shot their father in the yard of their home. The brother informed dispatchers that James lived in a trailer on the property and was described as "mentally unstable."
According to reports, the situation escalated after James Johnston had allegedly fired his. 22-caliber rifle earlier that morning. His brother, who was on the roof of the house at the time, heard the shots and came down to warn their father. A confrontation ensued, during which James Johnston allegedly fired a "warning shot" at his father's feet. As Robert Johnston walked back toward the main house, another shot was fired, this time striking him in the abdomen.
James Johnston was arrested and subsequently charged with second-degree murder in connection with his father's death. Prosecutors noted that James had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a young age and had not been taking his medication for years. It was also reported that just a week before the fatal shooting, he had allegedly fired his rifle at his brother and sent a threatening message to his mother. In his statement to detectives, James Johnston claimed the shooting was accidental, stating that the gun went off while he was trying to clear a malfunction. He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail with bail set at $1 million.
