In the quiet, rural community of Ravensdale, Washington, the morning of April 27, 2015, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 56-year-old Richard "Rick" Napier, a White male. The fatal encounter unfolded at a mobile home park on Southeast Kent-Kangley Road, where Napier had gone to help a woman who was moving out of the trailer she shared with Jeremy S. Blakely.
Blakely, who was 35 at the time, became enraged that the woman was leaving with Napier.
Shortly before 6:45 a.m., he returned to his trailer armed with a pistol. Witnesses reported that Blakely confronted Napier, demanding to know why he was trying to interfere in his life. Before Napier could fully respond, Blakely shot him in the chest. As the woman and another man present fled in terror, Blakely fired a second shot at Napier, who was then on the floor.
When King County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene, they found Napier deceased in the kitchen of Blakely's trailer. Blakely was waiting for them and immediately admitted to the shooting. He was arrested at the scene. It was later revealed that Blakely, a convicted child rapist, was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and had stolen the pistol used in the killing.
Jeremy S. Blakely was subsequently charged with second-degree murder. During legal proceedings, his defense argued that the shooting was in self-defense. However, a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder. In October 2016, Blakely was sentenced to nearly 26 years in prison for the murder of Richard Napier.
