Updated at 7:31 p.m. on Thursday March 15, 2012
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Prosecutors said the owner of the house on Centralia’s B Street told his house guests to stop arguing, then went and loaded his handgun before he “called the victim out of the bedroom” and shots were fired, killing 43-year-old David Wayne Carson.
David Wayne Carson
The accused, Weston G. Miller, told police he acted in self-defense yesterday, that Carson rushed him with a knife, according to charging papers. Detectives haven’t found evidence Carson was armed, Elected Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer wrote in court documents.
Miller, 29, was charged today with first-degree murder, with a maximum possible penalty of life in prison.
He was arrested after “fleeing” his own house yesterday afternoon.
Miller is described as a lifelong local resident, a former welder who collected on-the-job injury payments until the end of last year. Neighbors say the past few months he’s had financial issues, including getting the power shut off in his home.
Carson’s family says he had been staying with Miller for about a week, with plans to use a college grant to become a “bush” pilot in Alaska.
Prosecutor Meyer today told a judge Miller is a danger to the community.
“This was an unprovoked attack, he shot the victim two times and the victim is deceased,” Meyer said.
Meyer said detectives found in his house five guns, a silencer, a laser site for a gun and a bullet-proof vest.
Miller’s domestic violence assault two years ago means he’s prohibited from possessing firearms, according to Meyer.
Neither Centralia police, prosecutors or charging documents shed light on how the two men knew each other or any details about the dispute between Carson and his girlfriend Sara Delsavo. Only that the couple were arguing in a bedroom and Miller told them to quit it on two, perhaps three occasions.
Delsavo allegedly indicated that the day before, however, Miller offered to shoot Carson for her, and showed her his silencer, according to charging documents.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt ordered Miller held on $1 million bail.
Defense attorney Bob Schroeter had argued for much lower.
He pointed out the victim has a “rap sheet” that runs eight pages and an outstanding warrant for criminal trespass.
Miller’s only background was a two-year-old fourth-degree assault gross misdemeanor, Schroeter said.
“He poses no threat to the community whatsoever,” he said. “(The documents) seem to insinuate my client got in the middle, tried to rectify a situation.”
Police believe Carson was shot with a 9 mm handgun.
Miller was interviewed by police after his arrest.
According to charging documents, he said he got his gun from his bedroom, loaded it, put it in the pocket of his sweatpants and returned to the victim’s room.
He said he saw (Carson) just a few feet away from him with a knife in his left hand, and that he came at him, causing him to pull out his gun and fire, charging documents say.
Delsavo told police her boyfriend only moved toward Miller when Miller called him, and said her boyfriend was not armed, according to the documents. She heard several gunshots, she said.
Police have said they think three shots were fired.
Miller was also charged with five counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
When detectives searched his home, they found a .22 caliber rifle, a Walter .22 caliber pistol, a Walter 9 mm pistol, a Rohm revolver and a MAC-10 semi-automatic, according to charging documents.
Several of the victim’s family members were in the courtroom when Miller appeared, including Carson’s 21-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son.
His older brother Dan Carson spoke earlier about a life cut short.
David Carson – always the adventurer – had just signed up for college and was going to learn to fly, so he could go work in Alaska, he said.
“He seemed pretty excited Saturday when I talked to him about it,” he said.
The family grew up in Centralia, but when David was young, he hitched a ride on a train to California and his life took a turn for the worse, according to his brother.
“David, he never liked to following the rules much,” he said. “He always wanted to play or look for some bug or a bird.”
A bum on the train molested him, there was a gun and David Carson shot and killed the man, his brother said. He spent five years in juvenile detention in California, he said.
Dan Carson recalls his brother got out when he was 16.
One of his greatest loves was dogs and he took a job in San Bernadino caring for expensive show dogs, his brother said. He even worked with the St. Bernard from the movie “Beethoven” and a chihuahua from a Taco Bell commercial, he said.
Then that ended with some kind of a squabble, he said.
“He got into meth for awhile and he went down that road,” Dan Carson said. “Committed enough stuff, it was pretty much hopeless taking part in the American dream, if you will.”
Then life was good again, when David Carson worked at Hardel plywood in Chehalis as a millwright.
“He bought a truck, was picking it up, even going to church from time to time,” he said.
In the recent past, David Carson stayed temporarily with his mother in Chehalis, and then his girlfriend found him the place to stay on B Street, Dan Carson said.
He was talented, an artist as well, he said.
“He was good at whatever he did, when he decided to put his mind to it,” he said.
David Carson leaves behind his mother, two brothers, two children and a “California pit bull” named Titus.
Miller’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, March 22.
•••
For background, read “Breaking news: Man fatally shot in Centralia, suspect arrested” from Tuesday March 13, 2012 at 6:36 p.m., here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
This happend awhile ago… I know, but i still think if dave. I live in california and my best friend of 16 years monuque james was daves girlfriend for years. Monique, my husband david and myself kept in touch with dave after he had moved back to washington, and we were all so very proud of his progress in his own personal life. He never mentioned his then girlfriend, but imvsurevthat was because he had always planned on someday reuniting with monique and marrying her. He always wanted monique and he adored her and she thought he was the smartest most handsome man alive. They did get into some trouble together and time apart was good for them. Of course monique had no idea that she would never see dave again, and was devastated upon hearing of his passing. I appreciate what daves brother said about his life events because that is exactly what i also knew of dave. (except for the bug searching thing) lol. We miss him and he will never be forgotten here in california also.
I can’t believe the comments from ppl thinking his girlfriend Sara had anything to do with this- if you don’t know her keep your opinions to yourself, she would NEVER have hurt David as he was the love of her life- her soulmate ! Period… She had nothing to do with this except being there when it happened and she was also in fear for her own life- so maybe until you are in a similar situation and your loved one has been shot in front of you don’t be so quick to judge because you have no business saying anything about her or to her except I’m sorry for your loss- that’s a pretty traumatic thing to see happen especially to the man you love with all your heart– you people should be ashamed for talking about an innocent victim or should I say witness as well – Weston will rot in hell for this- they were supposedly friends, who kills someone because they are arguing with their girlfriend- that should say enough! Leave her out of it she has suffered enough !
My heart aches…as David has been in my heart for over 30 years. As one of his 6th grade teachers, he was the most deserving young man I ever bonded with. Yes, others were special, yet David deserved hugs…if he could ever receive them.
Although I only had David in reading class, I asked the principal if I could “adopt” him / transfer him into my homeroom class. I recognized his high intelligence, creativity, deep emotional bonds, and drive to find a path honoring his gifts. The principal was not willing to transfer him, yet I always encouraged him, after school, and during reading class to let me help him shine.
I do remember glimpses of his poems…he always included something like, “M&M’s” and “Cotton Candy.” I’ll have to search through my archives to see if I can find his letters from California.
So sad, I am, that I was searching for David all these years, only to now discover that he was in Centralia all the while.
David was a gem. He used to tell me he wanted to become a psychiatrist or psychologist. I knew he would be a great one, as we so often seek those careers that help us dig into our own souls.
Please…those of you who knew him…tell me more about his life. He will always be so special. I am breathless to know that I missed the chance to reconnect with him. Amazing young man.
Ms. Carey, David’s 6th Grade Teacher . kate@katecarey,com
tIME HAS PASSEDE BUT DAVID YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. AND MY LITTLE GRANDSON SAID HE SEEN YOU IN THE CLOUDS. IT STILL HURTS. YOU ARE SO VERY SPECIAL DAVID. WHEN YOU LEFT YOU TOOK APART OF US AWAY AND LEFT US WITH THE MEMORIES WE WILL HOLD ON TOO FOREVER.I WISH SO MUCH YOU WAS HERE..SARA IS AS GUILITY AS WESTON AND SHE IS STILL FREE I DON’T UNDERSTAND SHE IS VERY EVIL .
Maybe I’m reading too much into it, or not reading it well enough, but I am wondering about that girlfriend. You know, the one that “found” Carson a place to live, then asked Miller to kill her boyfriend? And was the only witness to the whole ordeal? I hope that the detectives can sort this one out better than I can.
I see a lot of “oh, he was such an awesome person” and “he was the sweetest man…” when in reality, it is now “oh #$%&, where am I going to get my drugs from now?”
I’m sorry, but I’ve spent a bit of time in Lewis County, so I know a bit about the inner workings of some of the people here…
We were just heart broken when I came across the information about David as we realized after seeing his picture he is the same David we had in Foster care when he was 6 years old. He always had a special place in our hearts as he was a very hurt little boy. We gave him all the love we could when he was with us and often said after he had to go back home that we wished we could have kept him in our family. He loved going to church with us and sharing his day at the dinner table. He also loved to draw pictures for us everyday. Even though he had a lot of hurt built up inside and would explode from time to time he always said he was sorry and wanted a big hug. We still have pictures of him and he still had the same smile and loving eyes as he did at 6 years old. We are so sorry this has happened to you David and pray you are at peace now.
This should not have happen to David his family and friends love and miss him deeply and I think this could have been prevented if sara would have told the police or David the day before makes me wonder if sara played a part in his murder when wes and sara was [sounds like ploteing to kill David]. After all Weston showed sara the guns and silencer she admitted to seeing. She is as guilty as WESTON…
Thanks for the clarification, Sharyn. I didn’t think there was anything hidden because you don’t do that sort of thing, but it just sort of stood out. Almost like when sportswriters use the term “announced attendance” to indicate they don’t think as many people were at a particular game as the home team says.
Sure, Curious Onlooker, I used that wording because he is THE prosecutor not just A prosecutor or one of the prosecutors. For whatever it’s worth, readers will be able to discern that it was the top guy in the office who wrote up and signed the charges himself. –Sharyn Decker
Curious: I had the same reaction as you about the “Elected” Prosecutor part when I read it too. Then seeing your post, it took me a back, that someone else had picked up on it. After giving it more thought, I decided it actually wasn’t a bad thing to note. Actually, WE DID vote him into office. And boy am I glad we did! He was right on the scene personally! BRAVO Jonathan Meyer! And unlike the former scandalous Prosecutor Golden, he has been busy DOING his job, and not trying to be a big show off in the media!
Chris, Ive been looking at the photo of Dave and keep thinking “where do I know him from”, you mention that he liked antiques, quite possibly he has been to one or more of our auctions, at any rate, sorry for the loss of your friend.
Brandon
Here is my Facebook eulogy to Dave from the day I found out it happened (Wednesday. I would have known Tuesday if I had answered my phone at the Casino when Sara was trying to call me). Dave was one of my best friends in the world, he was a good person. He may have had a history of run in’s with the police and he did have an attitude with authority but he was not a bad person and he did not do bad things.
I refuse to hang out with tweakers and losers because I have a good life and a good job and, in my 26 years on this planet, I have done more good than bad and I am definitely more of an asset to this country than an expense. Dave, despite the situation he was in, was the type of person I liked to hang out with. He had morals, talent, and great stories to share. I do not regret any of the time I spent with him.
He was the victim of a crazy (psychzophrenic), selfish, loser who he had shown nothing but kindness and generosity to:
Rest in peace, Dave. I’m not exactly sure why what happened happened but, after years of knowing you, I feel confident saying that you, of all people, did not deserve it.
I wish things had gone better for you these last couple years, you had fallen on some pretty hard times but you did not give up and you were always cheerful when I saw you. I always liked hanging out with you, even when I acted annoyed.
You got me started collecting glass and antiques, the vast majority of my knowledge in those fields came from you. Half of my camera collection (including a few of my best pieces) came from you. I will miss your weekly (and sometimes bi- or even tri-weekly) visits more than you would know. I am glad you were a part of my life.
I thought the line “Elected Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer…” was a curious choice of words. Any reason the word “Elected” was included? Just wondering.
I’m so sorry for this whole family. Cait and Sara I love you both so much! Uncle B and everyone else too! I can’t believe this is happening. I hope this guy rots in hell! I love you all and miss you all too! If I had a ride I would be there with you guys!!!