Everett storage unit death being investigated as murder

EVERETT — Detectives have found probable cause for murder in the investigation of a dead body found at an Everett storage unit.

On the morning of May 3, a man called 911 to report his friend, later identified as Scott Pullen, 48, had been shot. The caller reported the shooter had stolen his black and red Chevy Tahoe and fled, according to a search warrant written by Everett detective Alex Helphrey.

Authorities responded to the scene at Storehouse Mini Storage in the 3000 block of Smith Avenue and saw Pullen’s body lying lifeless next to the passenger’s side of his black Chevy Silverado. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the head, the detective wrote, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The friend told police he had his Tahoe parked at the storage complex. When they showed up, the windows were fogged up, the driver’s side door was opened and a man was sleeping inside. They confronted the stranger, causing him to run away.

Then they confronted another person they considered to be suspicious, who was sleeping in a white Dodge Durango. The friend told police he knew the owner of that vehicle was out of town for a fishing trip. The man got out of the Dodge carrying a backpack the friend thought to be stolen. The stranger reportedly brandished a gun. The friend hid. He heard a gunshot, he reported, and saw Pullen fall to the ground.

The shooter got into the Chevy Tahoe and drove off, the friend reported.

In the following weeks, authorities reviewed security footage from the time of the shooting.

“While all surveillance footage from the storage facility has not yet been reviewed, a brief review of the relevant footage seemed to corroborate (the friend’s) account of events,” the detective wrote.

Authorities found the Chevy in King County and impounded it at the Lake Stevens Police Department. There is probable cause it was stolen, the detective wrote, and that the person who stole it was wanted for investigation of second-degree murder.

Police had not made any arrests as of Friday afternoon.

Ellen Dennis: 425-339-3486; [email protected]; Twitter: @reporterellen