An argument along the Cedar River near Renton ended in the fatal shooting of 24-year old Nicholas Germer, of Kent, the evening of June 18. He was shot multiple times after a fight between him and another man, who has been charged with first-degree murder.
King County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a disturbance and several gunshots near the 17600 block of Southeast Jones Road in unincorporated King County, where they found Germer shot. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he died on June 19.
Detectives identified 34-year-old James Dean Schultz as a suspect after talking to witnesses who were on the scene. Schultz then turned himself in at a Maple Valley precinct on June 24. He was booked into King County Jail on investigation of first-degree murder and his bail was set at $1 million.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Schultz on Monday, June 29, with first-degree murder.
A gofundme.com account was set up for Germer, and the donations are going to Rabbit Haven and other local animal charities which is a cause he was passionate about, according to the fundraiser.
Germer was raised in a small town in central British Columbia, Canada, before moving down to Kent with his family when he was 11, according to the gofundme.com posting by the Germer family.
The family said that Germer had a favorite spot down by Cedar River where he and his friends (or acquaintances that would soon become friends) would often go to enjoy a fire and good times, to listen to the sound of the river, or just enjoy the peace and tranquility. He enjoyed this spot so much that he would often go there on his own as well because it seemed to bring him peace.
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