Trial is delayed in shooting death of Port Angeles man

PORT ANGELES — The trial of a Sequim man accused in the May shooting death of a Port Angeles man has been delayed.

Nathaniel Darren Olson, 27, will face trial for second-degree murder in Clallam County Superior Court on Feb. 23 in the death of Matthew R. Baker, 25.

Judge Erik Rohrer reset the trial, originally set for Nov. 13, on Thursday.

The county Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requested the delay to allow more time for laboratory reports to be completed, according to court documents.

Olson, who is on supervised release on $75,000 bail while awaiting trial, is now required to remain at his residence.

He is allowed a 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily release for work or errands.

Olson was given permission to break that requirement for the birth of his child.

Superior Court Judge George Wood will preside over the February trial, expected to take six days.

Baker was found dead of a single gunshot wound to the chest at a home at 1523 Monroe Road at about 12:40 a.m. May 22.

Deputies called to the home said they found both Olson and Baker lying on the living room floor.

Baker, who was on his back near the front door with a single gunshot wound to his chest, was pronounced dead by paramedics at the home.

Witnesses told deputies that Baker and Olson had been alone in the living room.

Jason Holden — who was celebrating his birthday with his twin, Jeremy, at the house owned by his father — said he saw a black pistol next to Olson’s leg after hearing a bang at about midnight.

A .45-caliber Sig Sauer 191 model handgun was found on the dining room table on the second floor of the home.

The gun was not registered to anyone at the party, the Sheriff’s Office has said, though another witness told deputies Olson had displayed the pistol earlier in the evening.

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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.

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