Man killed over parking dispute was shot in the head

LYNNWOOD — A 27-year-old Lynnwood-area man has been charged with second-degree murder, accused by Snohomish County prosecutors of fatally shooting a man after a fight over parking.

Alex Valdovinos was arrested Saturday after witnesses identified him as the person who fired an AR-15 assault-style rifle from his porch, killing DeMarcus Bell, 36, of Tacoma, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff and Medical Examiner’s offices.

Valdovinos remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail, The Seattle Times reported.

Parking had become a contentious issue with neighbors complaining that Valdovinos’ visitors took up multiple parking spaces, says a probable-cause statement.

Around 11 p.m. Saturday, two men associated with a house nearby went to Valdovinos’ house and complained, according to the probable cause statement. Two groups of men fought and one man fell off the porch and broke his leg. He was pulled inside the house and that’s when Valdovinos is accused of firing into the air, breaking up the fight, according to the statement.

As men including Bell were returning to the neighboring house, the statement says Valdovinos fired three or four more shots. Bell was struck in the back of the head and collapsed in the driveway. He died at the scene.

It wasn’t immediately known if Valdovinos has a lawyer.