EVERETT – A 27-year-old man is being held in the Snohomish County Jail in connection with a violent carjacking Sunday that started at the Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip and ended in north Everett.
Court papers allege that the suspect, Eric Anderson, approached a man who had gotten off work at the Nike store and was in the outlet mall parking lot. The suspect asked for a cigarette; the employee gave him one, then got into his car.
The victim was looking at his phone when police alleged that Anderson hopped into the backseat and aimed what looked to be a gun at the victim’s head, according to court papers.
Anderson allegedly ordered the victim to drive south on the freeway, and demanded the man’s wallet, necklace, cell phone and car.
They stopped near Garfield Park in Everett. When the victim saw Anderson become distracted for an instant, he tried to grab the gun, which led to a struggle. Anderson allegedly grabbed the victim’s belongings and while outside the car, shot the victim twice in the chest with the pellet gun, court papers allege.
A chase ensued west from the park with the gun-wielding suspect firing more shots that hit the victim. After a neighbor noticed the pursuit and heard the victim’s call for help, the suspect fled.
Meantime, the victim, his face bloodied, drove to the Everett police north precinct, and said he had been carjacked and struck by some type of handgun. He sustained non life-threatening injuries, police said.
Officers found Anderson near 23rd Street and McDougall Avenue carrying a backpack that contained a single pellet. The suspect reportedly told police he was having heroin withdrawals.
Police brought the victim to where the suspect had been apprehended, and he provided a positive identification of his attacker.
Anderson was booked into the Snohomish County Jail under suspicion of robbery, kidnapping and assault.