PORT ANGELES — A man suspected of fatally shooting his next-door neighbor in south Port Angeles four months ago was charged Thursday with first-degree premeditated murder.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge George L. Wood set a $1 million bail for Bobby J. Smith, 58.
Smith will be arraigned in Superior Court on Friday, on Oct. 21.
Port Angeles police said Smith shot Robert Fowler, 63, at 211 Vashon Ave. on June 20.
Smith, who lived at the home where the shooting occurred, was not charged until police completed a lengthy investigation.
The investigation included a State Patrol crime lab examination of a knife that was found at the scene and other evidence.
Smith had already moved to the Amarillo, Texas, area when Clallam County Superior Court Judge S. Brooke Taylor issued a bench warrant for his arrest Sept. 23.
A team of Texas Rangers served the warrant a few days later and booked Smith into the Potter County jail.
Port Angeles police traveled to Texas on Sunday to gather more evidence and bring Smith to Clallam County.
Smith was extradited Wednesday. He remained in the Clallam County jail Thursday night.
Smith appeared in court wearing handcuffs and a yellow Baylor shirt.
He appeared confused at times, asking the judge to repeat portions of his rights and his attorney’s last name.
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Troberg requested a $1 million bail based on the severity of the charge, the fact that he had to be extradited from Texas and his large collection of firearms.
The bench warrant also had a $1 million bail.
Defense attorney Harry Gasnick of Clallam Public Defender said Smith cooperated with authorities, had the right to possess firearms and did not flee.
“If my client would have been sent a simple postcard, he would have returned to deal with these matters straight up,” Gasnick said.
Judge Wood set the bail as requested based on the severity of the charge and “alarming” statements that Smith made to police.
According to the police report, Smith detailed how he shot Fowler several times with a 45.-caliber Colt pistol until Fowler stopped moving on his living room floor.
Smith said he shot Fowler in the head from close range.
An autopsy report found that Fowler was rendered incapacitated by gunshot wounds before a fatal gunshot wound to the brain stem.
Smith told investigators that Fowler had demanded money, grabbed a knife and tried to cut Smith’s throat.
While in Texas, Smith’s daughter applied for a protection order against him, citing her father’s “violent temper” and verbal abuse.
Fowler’s fiance, Karla Pennington of Port Angeles, thanked the Port Angeles Police Department before the hearing.
She said Detectives Kori Malone, Kevin Spencer and Jesse Winfield; Officer John Nutter; Sgt. Tyler Peninger; and others were “so supportive” of her and Fowler’s family throughout the ordeal.
“They went above and beyond to be there for us,” Pennington said.
“Every one of them put a lot of time into this and effort. They were extremely thorough. They were just spectacular, and I’ll be forever grateful to them.”
As for Smith’s arrest, Pennington said: “I’m glad that it came out this way because I knew Robert didn’t do anything wrong.
“I’m hoping that justice will be done.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
