In the winter of 2016, a confrontation fueled by a dispute over a woman culminated in the shooting death of 50-year-old Paul Hewlett in the community of Ashford, Washington. The fatal encounter unfolded on the night of Sunday, February 7, 2016, in the parking lot of a local tavern.
Hewlett had been involved in an argument with another man, reportedly concerning a woman who was an employee at the bar and whom Hewlett had previously dated. Earlier that day, the woman had accused Hewlett of stalking her. The disagreement between the two men escalated after the bar closed for the evening. Investigators believe that although Hewlett was not armed, he had actively sought out the other individual in the parking lot. An eyewitness account suggested a volatile scene where Hewlett was allegedly using his truck to try and run the other man down, causing the man to feel his life was in danger.
In the midst of this chaotic altercation, the younger man, who was 32 years old at the time, drew a semi-automatic handgun and fired multiple shots, striking Hewlett. Emergency services were called, and Hewlett was transported to a hospital in Tacoma, where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Monday, February 8, 2016. The shooter fled the scene but later contacted authorities from his home in Eatonville to turn himself in. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and was initially cooperative with the investigation. A firearm believed to have been used in the shooting was also recovered by law enforcement.
Following a thorough investigation by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, the case was presented to the county prosecutor's office for review. In a significant development, prosecutors announced in March 2016 that they would not be filing any criminal charges against the man who shot Paul Hewlett. The decision was based on the assessment that they would be unable to disprove the shooter's claim of self-defense. As a result, the man was released from custody, and the case was closed without legal proceedings moving forward.
