VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — A Vancouver man accused of killing his roommate told police it was a mercy killing.
Nineteen-year-old Mathew Starr made his first appearance Monday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of murder and robbery charges in the death of 25-year-old Joshua Schenk. His body was found March 2 near Vancouver Lake.
The Columbian reports (http://is.gd/ypFgqo ) Starr told police he was target shooting with Schenk and two others on Feb. 29 when Starr stumbled and accidentally fired his rifle into Schenk’s head. Starr said he felt Schenk was suffering so he put another bullet into his head “like you would a deer” to put him out of his misery.
The deputy prosecutor says the killing was premeditated and that Starr took $300 from Schenk’s wallet and left the body.
