Man shot, killed while stealing catalytic converter, police say

LAKEWOOD, Wash. — A man in Washington has been charged after police said he shot and dragged another man who was taking a catalytic converter from his vehicle. The alleged thief, whose identity has not been released, was found dead.

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Michael Scott Campbell is accused of shooting the man after Campbell said he caught the man taking the piece of equipment from his truck, KIRO reported.

Court records state Campbell was awoken by a noise while he slept in his truck, and saw the man sawing the catalytic converter.

Police said Campbell opened the passenger’s side door and fired multiple shots directly at the person. The person tried to get back to his own vehicle but fell, KIRO reported.

That is when police said Campbell “lashed the victim’s hands above his head and tied him to the ball hitch on his F-150, then dragged him through the field,” KIRO reported.

Campbell told police the man was still alive and was talking when he was tied to the truck. Campbell said the man was also alive when he left him in the field.

When police found the man, he was dead.

Campbell has been charged with second-degree murder and is being held in the Pierce County Jail, KIRO reported.

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