Teen who shot man several times was promised $13,000 by ex-wife, Washington cops say

Two 17-year-olds and a Washington woman were arrested in connection with the attempted murder of her ex-husband in Bellevue, Washington, according to police documents for the woman’s first court appearance.

Joseph Good and Quincy Mendez drove in July to Bellevue from Mount Vernon, Washington, the document states. Good is accused of walking up to the victim in a parking lot and firing multiple shots from close range, police wrote in a probable cause statement.

After firing several shots into the victim’s arms, legs and chest, surveillance video showed the shooter get into the passenger seat of a truck waiting nearby before it drove off, according to the documents. Detectives were able to identify the license plate number and tracked it to Mendez’s home in Mount Vernon, the report says.

Detectives learned during their investigation that Good forwarded himself an email with a “link to a BrickHouse Security login webpage the night before the shooting,” the document states. The company specializes in GPS tracking devices, according to the document.

Detectives discovered a tracking device was planted on the undercarriage of the victim’s car. The device was allegedly purchased from BrickHouse by the victim’s ex-wife, 30-year-old Shaerin Kelley, the document states.

During interviews with the three suspects, Good “initially denied he had been to Bellevue recently and minimized his relationship” with the teen who drove the getaway truck, according to the document. Good later requested an attorney.

Kelley requested a lawyer after she was arrested.

Mendez, who allegedly drove the getaway truck, told investigators Good had asked him to drive to Bellevue. While driving, Good told Mendez that “he was going to cap someone and empty a clip,” which Mendez “took to mean shooting someone,” the document states.

Mendez parked at a nearby park while the shooter got out and walked toward the scene of the shooting. Good told him to drive away when he returned and they went back to Mount Vernon.

Mendez told detectives the shooter “promised to pay him somewhere between $4,000 and $6,000 for driving.” Mendez also told detectives that he “later learned that Good was going to be paid over $13,000 for his role in the shooting,” the document states.

The victim told investigators he did not know anyone who would have motivation to kill him except his ex-wife, according to the document.

“He reported that they were in the midst of a very acrimonious custody battle that also included a financial motive for Kelley to want to have sole custody of their child,” the document states.

Kelley is charged with first-degree attempted domestic violence murder with firearm enhancement, according to Casey McNerthney, a spokeswoman with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The teens are being charged as adults with first-degree attempted murder. Good is also being charged with violating the Uniformed Firearms Act in the second degree.

This story was originally published October 12, 2020 at 3:40 PM.