A father of six – and father of a University of California Berkeley football star – has been killed in a road rage shooting in Washington state.
Shawn Jemtegaard, 42, was shot on April 22 in Lacey, Washington when he was reportedly cut off by pizza delivery driver Aaron Patrick Costello, 48, in traffic.
At the time of the fatal traffic accident, the man’s 13-year-old son was in the car and witnessed the shooting, his wife said at a hearing before the Costello.
“I am now a single mother of six children,” said Chelsea Jemtegaard, Shawn’s wife.
Witnesses said they saw Costello and Jemtegaard get into a verbal altercation that turned physical. According to The OlympianCostello admitted to drawing a gun and fatally wounding the father of six.
Jemtegaard was the father of California Golden Bears player Dylan Jemtegaard who told crown he is now focused on strengthening his mother and five younger siblings.
A father of six, including a star football player from the University of California Berkeley, was shot and killed in a traffic accident in Washington state
Shawn Jemtegaard, 42, was killed in Lacey, Washington on April 22 when he was reportedly cut off by Aaron Patrick Costello, 48, in traffic
Jemtegaard was the father of California Golden Bears player Dylan Jemtegaard, who told KRON he now focuses on strengthening his mother and five younger siblings
According to a GoFundMe set up for the Jemtegaard family by Dylan’s team, Shawn was the sole breadwinner for the family of eight.
“The father of one of our Cal college football student athletes tragically lost his life on Saturday, April 22 in a random act of gun violence,” the description reads.
Of Shawn and Chelsea’s six children, five are at home and range in age from three to thirteen.
The fundraiser has a goal of $250,000 and hopes to help cover the family’s “multi-year needs” and “day-to-day living expenses.”
A statement from Alexander West, Dylan’s uncle, describes the father of six as loving and devoted to his family.
“He took great pride in his son Dylan’s academic and athletic achievements and always made time for his family, even helping to coach football at Yelm High School despite long hours caring for them,” the family member wrote.
Dylan, who is currently studying mechanical engineering at Berkeley, echoed his uncle’s statement.
“He’s always been hands-on, working his butt off to put the food on the table,” Dylan said.
The player told crown he is now focused on keeping his family together.
“It just makes me feel like I’m in a position where I have to continue to provide for my family… to be as successful as possible,” Dylan said.
“Because they have five younger siblings, they need a role model who can show them how to do things right and ultimately lead a successful life,” he continued.
Of Shawn and Chelsea’s six children, five are at home and range in age from three to thirteen
“He’s always been hands-on, working his butt off to put the food on the table,” Dylan said
“Because they have five younger siblings, they need a role model who can show them how to do things right and ultimately lead a successful life,” said Dylan.
Dylan (center) is studying mechanical engineering at the University of California Berkeley
According to police, officers were called to a parking lot on the block of 2500 Marvin Road Northeast to reports of a “traffic-related disturbance.”
A witness reportedly applied pressure to Jemtegaard’s torso after he was shot.
Upon arrival, police found Jemtegaard with a dime-sized gunshot wound and he was rushed to hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
A witness told a police officer she heard an argument between two men that turned into a fight before a loud ‘pop noise’ was heard.
That witness also told the officer she heard Jemtegaard yell, “Oh my God, you just shot me.”
Another witness said she saw Costello, who is a pizza delivery boy, tell his manager, “There is a bleeding man lying there. I just shot him.’
Costello was subsequently arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
On Monday, the defendant first appeared in court in Thurston County Superior Court and was posted $500,000 bail.
In court, Chelsea asked the judge to keep the man in jail.
“One of the children was at the scene with his father and witnessed his father at the incident. It would be terrifying at this point to have him (Costello) free,” she said.
Judge John Skinder, in setting bail, said the case is “unusual” due to the extreme nature and the suspect’s clean criminal record prior to the shooting.
“This case is somewhat unusual in that Mr. Costello has no previous significant criminal history, but the nature of the allegation is so extreme,” Skinder said.
Upon arrival, police found Jemtegaard with a dime-sized gunshot wound and he was rushed to hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
That witness also told the officer that she heard Jemtegaard yell, “Oh my God, you just shot me.”
DA Christian Cabrera claimed Costello did not cause the incident and said in court that he was cooperating with law enforcement on the scene, The Olympian reports.
“It’s very unfortunate, Your Honor,” Cabrera said.
‘Mr. Costello was just driving back to work. According to the statement of the PC (probable cause) he did not instigate this. He just went to work and was confronted by a gentleman who had a child in the car, “said the public prosecutor.
COstello’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for May 9.