LYNNWOOD — One man died and three people were arrested early Sunday morning after an altercation at a home along Damson Road near Lynnwood.
Snohomish County sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit detectives are investigating.
About 10 people were at the house in the hours surrounding the death, some of them homeless, court papers show. Police were given varying accounts of what happened.
The man who died was Dean E. Urness, 52, according to the arrest reports. Urness had an apparent gunshot wound and possible head injuries.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet determined his exact cause of death. Court papers show police are investigating the case as a potential homicide.
A man and a woman who lived at the home were arrested in connection with the case.
The woman, 32, was being held Monday for investigation of second-degree murder. Bail was set at $250,000. Police believe she may have shot Urness. The man, 37, was being held for investigation of second-degree domestic violence assault. His bail was set at $100,000.
Police allege that he wielded a baseball bat during the altercation. Prosecutors in court Monday said the man may have struck Urness with the bat before Urness was shot.
Police on Monday weren’t releasing additional details about any weapons involved. Their early reports said that deputies weren’t sure whether the man was shot with a pellet gun or a more powerful rifle.
Emergency crews were called to the home about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. They found Urness on the ground. He died in the back of the ambulance.
Urness and his girlfriend reportedly got into a confrontation about 12:30 a.m. with other people at the home. They reportedly were asked to leave and one or both of them later came back.
Police allege that the 37-year-old suspect threw water on Urness’ girlfriend and threatened her with a bat.
At one point, Urness allegedly head-butted the man.
Witnesses at the scene said they heard a “thud’ and then saw Urness on the ground. Urness was unarmed, according to witnesses.
Another man at the home also was arrested on unrelated warrants.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com
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