On a summer evening in Auburn, Washington, the life of 29-year-old Sara Arthur was tragically cut short. On July 5, 2015, she was in Les Gove Park with a companion, 32-year-old Chaz Schmitz. The two were homeless and had traveled to the area from Idaho, finding work at local fireworks stands. Their day, however, would end in a violent encounter that would leave two people dead and a community in shock.
According to police reports, an argument broke out between Schmitz and another man in the park, 39-year-old Charles Clayton Petrich. A transient with a criminal record that included a prior conviction for assault, Petrich was known to be in the area. The dispute escalated, and Petrich retrieved a. 22 caliber rifle from his pickup truck. He then opened fire, shooting Schmitz in the chest and Sara at the base of her skull. Schmitz died at the scene, while Sara was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Despite the efforts of medical staff, she succumbed to her injuries the following day.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Petrich fled the park in his truck. An investigation was launched, and authorities quickly identified him as the primary suspect. Less than 24 hours after the shooting, on the night of July 6, police located and arrested Petrich without incident at a 7-Eleven in Auburn. During questioning, he reportedly admitted to the shootings.
Prosecutors in King County moved swiftly, charging Charles Petrich with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $4 million, with prosecutors arguing that his transient status and violent actions made him a significant flight risk and a danger to the community. In late July 2015, Petrich pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
