Convicted felon wanted in shooting death of 4-year-old boy
SEDRO WOOLLEY -- A manhunt is underway for a 25-year-old convicted felon who is suspected of shooting and killing a four-year-old boy. It was first thought that the shooting was an accident and that the boy shot himself, but investigators later determined it was homicide.
"Initially,we believed that he picked up a gun and had another tragic accident (on our hands), but it was in fact a homicide,” Sedro-Woolley Police Chief Doug Wood said. "Police and other emergency people arrived and found a four-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to Skagit Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead."
The suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Trevor Braymiller and police said he is the boy's mother's boyfriend. Police said Braymiller is a convicted felon who should not be in possession of a gun. The identity of the boy and the mother has not yet been released.
Multiple 911 calls started coming in just after 7 a.m. Sunday. The calls were made from a house on Township Street from neighbors who heard gunshots. One of those calling police was Danny Brown, who was in the house when the shots was fired.
"I just couldn't believe it. I felt as though I was in one of those TV shows,” Brown said.
Dryer is a friend of Braymiller's and said he was with him around the time of the shooting. He also said Braymiller called him asking for a ride and he picked Braymiller up before he knew what had happened.
"He said he went outside into the garage to smoke a cigarette and he heard a boom and went back in the house and his son wasn't moving,” Dreyer said. Dreyer said he alerted police and is cooperating with them.
Late Sunday afternoon, police got a tip and found the gun believed to have been used in the shooting behind a trash can at a church half a block away. There was no sign of Braymiller and police from throughout the area are looking for him.
"He's considered armed and dangerous. We believe he is on foot, so we're asking everybody to keep their eyes open and call 911 if you see something suspicious,” Wood said.
Family, friends and police said Braymiller has a history of abusing and selling drugs. He described as white, about 5-feet, 8-inches tall, 165 pounds and has brown hair with “scruffy” facial hair. He was last seen wearing a bright red or orange shirt.
Anyone who sees him is asked to call 911.