Man charged in Everett Taco Bell shooting

EVERETT — Detectives found several pieces of evidence that they say tie Shaquille Jones to gunfire outside an Everett Taco Bell that wounded three people.

Jones, 21, was arrested three days after a volley of bullets sent restaurant patrons running for cover. Police say they recovered a stolen handgun under Jones’ seat when they picked him up. The silver and black handgun had a single-stack magazine loaded with 13 .45 caliber rounds — the same number and caliber of spent casings found outside the restaurant June 29.

Detectives later located the suspect’s Chevrolet Trailblazer under a tarp. Inside was a blue baseball cap with a marijuana leaf stitched on the front. Witnesses said the shooter had on a hat matching that description.

Two of the men who were injured identified Jones as the man who shot them, court papers said.

Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Toni Montgomery charged Jones on Thursday with two counts of first-degree assault. He was being held on $1 million bail.

Witnesses said violence broke out after Jones called another man a derogatory name because he had a pink bicycle. The suspect also accused the man of “mean mugging” him, or giving Jones dirty looks. The bicycle owner, a Taco Bell worker, took off his T-shirt and challenged Jones to a fight, Montgomery wrote.

Witnesses said Jones walked to his SUV, emerged with a handgun and started firing. One man said Jones was encouraged by his friends to pull out his gun.

The bicycle owner and another Taco Bell employee were hit.

A man standing behind the employees also was shot. Police believe he was with another group of men associated with Jones. The suspect’s friend told him: “You shot me, homie.”

None of the men’s injuries were life-threatening.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.

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