In the late hours of May 22, 2014, the life of 25-year-old Matthew R. Baker, a White male, was tragically cut short in Port Angeles, Washington. Baker died from a single gunshot wound to the chest while at a social gathering at a residence on Monroe Road.
The events of that night unfolded at a family barbecue, where alcohol consumption was prevalent among the adults present. A man named Nathaniel Darren Olson, then 29, was accused of recklessly causing Baker's death.
Prosecutors alleged that Olson, who had been drinking heavily and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.23 percent, was responsible for firing the fatal shot from his. 45-caliber semi-automatic handgun. During the ensuing 9-1-1 call, one of the individuals at the house could be heard in the background stating, "Nate shot him."
During the trial, the prosecution argued that Olson's reckless behavior, including displaying a loaded weapon while intoxicated, directly led to Baker's death. However, Olson's defense attorney presented a different version of events, contending that her client was passed out from excessive alcohol consumption when the shooting occurred. The defense pointed to a physical altercation between Baker and the homeowner, David Holden, earlier that evening, suggesting Holden had a motive. They argued that another individual was responsible for the shooting and that there was an attempt to incriminate Olson.
Ultimately, after a two-week trial and approximately three hours of deliberation, a Clallam County jury found Nathaniel Darren Olson not guilty of first-degree manslaughter. The jury concluded that the prosecution had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Olson was responsible for Matthew Baker's death. While Baker's family was left to mourn their loss, the verdict acquitted the only individual charged in connection with the fatal shooting.
