On the evening of February 28, 2021, a family dinner on Camano Island, Washington, turned into a scene of tragedy, resulting in the death of 41-year-old Dean Wagstaff, a White male. The fatal incident occurred at his home, where an altercation with his 21-year-old son, Dominic Wagstaff, escalated with devastating consequences.
During the gathering, Dominic, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had been drinking heavily, became agitated.
He confronted his father, and when Dean pushed him away, Dominic produced a 9 mm pistol. Dean's remark, "That better be an airsoft pistol," were his last words before his son shot him in the eye. The bullet passed through his father's skull and also struck his brother's girlfriend, who was standing behind Dean. She sustained a scalp wound but survived.
Following the initial shot, Dean's older son, who was 23 at the time, tackled his brother in an attempt to disarm him. During the struggle, Dominic put the gun to his brother's head and fired again, but the shot missed. The older brother managed to wrestle the firearm away, at which point Dominic retreated and barricaded himself in his room. Dean Wagstaff was airlifted to a hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Law enforcement arrived at the residence in the 1400 block of Lakewood Drive and arrested Dominic Wagstaff. He was taken into custody at the Island County Jail and subsequently charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, and first-degree assault, with all charges carrying a domestic violence enhancement. The investigation revealed that Dominic had a history of mental illness as well as prior criminal convictions.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Dominic's defense centered on a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Forensic psychologists for both the prosecution and defense concurred that he suffered from schizophrenia, but they held differing opinions on whether he met the legal standard for insanity at the time of the shooting. Ultimately, in a plea agreement, Dominic Wagstaff pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree assault. He was sentenced to just over 20 years in prison. The case underscored the tragic intersection of mental illness and violence, and the profound impact on a family.
