One day after his arrest, a Washington State judge released a teenager for allegedly stabbing to death a 65-year-old veteran at a house.
On Friday, the Renton Police Department said 19-year-old K’Shawn Konscience Jimerson called 911 just after 2 p.m. and told the operator he had stabbed someone and would be standing “outside with the knife.” Jimerson also claimed self-defense during the call, police said.
Susan Hassinger, Renton Police stated that the 911 caller claimed to have stabbed a handyman in the house.
Police were told by witnesses that they heard Jimerson arguing, and then saw him with a large butcher’s knife and covered in red blood.
A witness claimed to have seen 65-year-old handyman Michael Gray bleeding out. Jimerson was yelling for him to dial 911.
Gray was found with multiple stab wounds on his back and side by the officers when they arrived at Gray’s apartment.
Gray died in the home after officers rendered immediate aid, according to police.
Court records indicate that officers also found the knife in a sink filled with detergent.
Jimerson was arrested by police after he remained at the scene.
On a court form, they indicated “yes” when asked if they were against Jimerson’s release. They stated that “Jimerson who is 19 stabbed an elderly man 65 years old with a large blade during an argument.”
At his first court date, 27 hours after his initial arrest, the judge, Michelle Gehlsen, initially set bail to $50,000, even though there was probable cause of second-degree homicide and his prosecutor had requested $2 million in bail.
Jimerson was released after posting bail, according to police.
Renton Police reported that the prosecutor had filed a motion for an increase in bail. The hearing has been scheduled for this Thursday.
The detectives say that surveillance video shows Jimerson chasing Gray from behind, hitting him with a large wooden club in the back of his head. He then struck him twice more in the head when he fell.
The video shows Gray standing up to talk with Jimerson. Jimerson runs away as the two men enter the apartment.
Jimerson, whose mother lives in Texas, recently returned to Washington.
Gray was hired by Jimerson’s grandmother to perform maintenance work. He spent one day and a quarter cleaning the walls in the apartment.
Gray and his roommates lived in a one-story house across the street, where the duplex was located. They said that Gray was a kind person who was always ready to lend a helping hand.
Gray’s roommates revealed that he was also a veteran. Gray’s branch of service was not immediately clear.
