Kent man charged in Renton, Skyway shooting deaths

A 24-year-old Kent man faces charges of two counts of first-degree murder for the alleged shooting of his grandmother in Skyway and the shooting of a 21-year-old woman in Renton. Both killings were on Tuesday.

A 24-year-old Kent man faces charges of two counts of first-degree murder for the alleged shooting of his grandmother in Skyway and the shooting of a 21-year-old woman in Renton. Both killings were on Tuesday.

Zachary D. Craven was also charged with second-degree assault for allegedly using a gun to pistol whip and threaten his grandfather in Kent on July 2, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Craven had been staying with his grandfather.

Bail was set at $5 million for Craven, who remains in the King County jail in Seattle. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. on July 23 in Courtroom 1201 of the King County Courthouse in Seattle.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

A Renton family returning home from vacation late discovered the body Meagan E. Smith, 21, the house-sitter in their Rolling Hills house, according to charging papers filed Friday. The family wasn’t able to reach Smith, who was to have picked them up at Sea-Tac Airport.

Renton Police arrested Craven on Wednesday. Renton Police detectives also recognized him as a suspect in the Skyway homicide, based on alerts sent to law-enforcement agencies by the King County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s deputies had discovered the body of Craven’s grandmother, Angelika Anna Hayden, 66, in the 11000 block of Parkview Avenue South on Renton’s West Hill. Deputies have been to the residence in the past, including as recently as July 4, and the grandmother had a court order against Craven, according to charging papers.

Wyman Yip, senior deputy prosecuting attorney, wrote in charging papers that Craven is a threat to the community and has a history of abuse toward family, his girlfriend and animals. His prior convictions include animal cruelty for stabbing his grandmother’s cat to death as well as first-degree theft and domestic violence.

The girlfriend of Craven broke up with him in June after about a three-year relationship. Smith was a friend of the girlfriend and was killed in the girlfriend’s family home.

Smith and Hayden each died from single gunshot wounds to the head, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. The .22-caliber shell casings found at each site were fired from the same gun, according to a State Patrol Crime Lab forensic scientist.

 


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Chase Jones and his attorney Brad Barshis reading Jones’ statement to the judge. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/Sound Publishing
Man who killed four in Renton crash sentenced to over 17 years in prison

The prosecutor reported that he was traveling at 112 miles per hour when he crashed into the victims.

t
Three Kent men honored by state during fallen worker ceremony

One died falling from Seattle bridge; two others were fatally shot

City of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Medical examiner identifies woman found dead in city of Kent jail

Cause and manner of death are pending for 45-year-old woman

File Photo, Kent Reporter
Large Kent Police response finds no weapon threats on Central Avenue

About a dozen police vehicles arrived in 700 block of Central Ave. S. Thursday, April 24

U.S. District Courthouse in Seattle. COURTESY PHOTO, USDOJ
Kent man pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking charges

Part of international drug ring that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine

Kent School Board members Tim Clark and Meghin Margel. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Kent School Board recall group files for reconsideration

Petitioners take next step after judge dismissed petitions to recall Meghin Margel, Tim Clark

t
Future female firefighters learn key skills at workshop

32 women participate in firefighting, emergency medical services training

t
Kent pedestrian killed in April 21 crash identified

Vicente Islas Gomez, 50, died of multiple blunt force injuries along Central Avenue South

Courtesy File Photo, WSDOT
Section of State Route 167 in Kent to be fully closed night of April 24

From 10 p.m. Thursday, April 24 to 4 a.m. Friday, April 25 between S. 180th Street and S. 212th Street

t
Kent man wanted in DV incident reportedly ‘has left the area’

Avon Cobb still on the run; flashbang device might have caused fire at Auburn business where he fled

Courtesy Photo, Comcast
Some Comcast, Xfinity Business customers lose service in Kent

Vandals damage cable line; service expected to be restored by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22

The city of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Female inmate, 45, dies while in custody at city of Kent jail

Found unresponsive Tuesday morning, April 22