On a summer morning on Camano Island, Washington, the life of 34-year-old Joseph Christopher Hicks, a Caucasian male, was brought to a tragic and violent end. On July 28, 2016, an altercation at the home of his former girlfriend would culminate in his fatal shooting. The man responsible was Ezekiel Scannell-McCrae, a 36-year-old who had not only been Hicks's former roommate but also shared a history of conflict with him, a tension partly fueled by their past relationships with the same woman.
She was present at the scene on that fateful day.
The events unfolded on Heather Drive after Scannell-McCrae, who had stayed at the residence the previous night, was asked to leave. A short time later, Hicks went outside after being alerted that Scannell-McCrae was returning. Raised voices were heard, followed by the sound of multiple gunshots. A witness reported seeing Scannell-McCrae standing about 10 feet from Hicks when he drew a. 357-caliber handgun and fired. Hicks was found deceased in the driveway from a bullet wound before emergency services could arrive.
In the immediate aftermath, Scannell-McCrae dropped the handgun and a backpack. After initially walking away slowly, he sat down on the gravel shoulder of the driveway and awaited the arrival of law enforcement. He was arrested at the scene without incident. The investigation that followed delved into a troubled history between the two men, touching upon issues of jealousy, drug use, and mental health as potential contributing factors to the deadly confrontation. It was also revealed that Scannell-McCrae was a convicted felon and legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Following his arrest, Ezekiel Scannell-McCrae was charged with second-degree murder and held on $1 million bail. In November 2017, he pleaded guilty. To avoid a painful trial for Hicks's family, he entered an Alford plea, a choice where the defendant does not admit guilt but concedes the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction. Scannell-McCrae claimed he acted in self-defense, believing Hicks was armed. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison, a term that included a five-year enhancement for the use of a firearm in the commission of the crime.
