On a late summer afternoon, the tranquility of Langus Riverfront Park in Everett, Washington was shattered by the sound of a single gunshot. It was August 31, 2020, and 56-year-old James R. Scannell, a White male from Everett, was sitting in his vehicle in the park's boat launch parking lot, unaware of the violence that was about to unfold. The incident, which occurred around 3:15 p.m., would leave Scannell dead and set off a chain of events leading to the arrest and conviction of three men.
The motive behind the fatal shooting was a drug deal that turned into a robbery. Three individuals had arranged to meet with Scannell that day with the intention of robbing him. Joshua Lowery, who had a history of drug transactions with Scannell and felt he had been shorted in the past, orchestrated the plan. He enlisted the help of Kyle Caperoon, who brought a 9mm pistol, and Christopher Benson, who drove them to the park in his Ford Escape. While Benson acted as the lookout, Lowery and Caperoon got into Scannell's car.
Inside the vehicle, the situation quickly escalated. Caperoon, seated behind Scannell, brandished the handgun and demanded that Scannell "run his pockets." When Scannell refused, a struggle for the weapon ensued, and the gun discharged, firing a fatal shot into Scannell's head. Lowery and Caperoon then fled the scene, escaping in Benson's waiting vehicle. The alarm was raised by kayakers who, hearing the gunshot, discovered Scannell's body. First responders attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that Scannell's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound.
The ensuing police investigation moved swiftly. Witnesses reported seeing two men flee Scannell's vehicle and leave in a red Ford Escape. Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured the license plate of the getaway car, leading detectives to Benson. The investigation culminated in the arrests of all three suspects. Kyle Caperoon, the shooter, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 31 years in prison. Joshua Lowery pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 20-year sentence. Christopher Benson, the driver, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and was sentenced to eight and a half years.
