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On Tuesday, a Thurston County Superior Court judge ordered James Rimmer, 58, held on suspicion of first-degree murder while armed with a firearm and other charges in connection with Lamar Willis’ shooting death. The judge set Rimmer’s bail at $750,000.
Willis was shot in the chest early Monday morning in his mobile home on Mullen Road near Meridian Road Southeast. Rimmer was allegedly arguing with Willis and Willis’ wife during an alcohol-fueled dispute that led to the homicide, Thurston County Sheriff’s Lt. Greg Elwin has said.
Rimmer is a transient and had been staying with the couple off and on for the past couple of weeks, Elwin has said.
According to court papers:
At one point during the dispute, Rimmer threatened Veronica Willis with a knife, before Lamar Willis intervened and disarmed Rimmer. Rimmer then armed himself with a handgun from a cabinet in the trailer and shot Lamar Willis.
Veronica Willis called 911 to report the shooting about 2:15 a.m. Monday.
When Thurston County Sheriff’s Deputy Rod Ditrich arrived at the scene, he “asked Lamar who shot him and he stated ‘Jim,’” court papers state. “When asked the last name, Ditrich heard something similar to ‘Rimmer.’ Lamar was then transported to (Providence) St. Peter Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.”
Veronica Willis said that after Rimmer shot her husband, he “turned the gun to her,” court papers state. “He pointed the gun directly at her head and looked her directly in the eyes. Willis believed that she was going to die.”
Deputies found the gun outside the trailer after Rimmer fled, court papers state.
Rimmer turned himself in at the Centralia Police Department Monday morning, and Thurston County Sheriff’s deputies were sent to pick him up, Elwin has said.
Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5445 jpawloski@theolympian.com
