Jury convicts man of first-degree murder for 2023 Lacey shooting
A jury has found a 43-year-old man guilty of murder for shooting and killing his Lacey neighbor in 2023.
Scott M. Brodrick learned of the verdict on Feb. 5 in Thurston County Superior Court. He has now been convicted of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, according to court records. The victim was Brian Fraley, 43.
The jury delivered the verdict nearly one and half years after Fraley was shot to death at a mobile home park in the 5500 block of Chelan Lane SE, just north of Yelm Highway in Lacey.
In a news release, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said the conviction brought a sense of justice for the victim’s family.
“This outcome reflects the dedication of the attorneys, legal staff, and victim advocates who worked diligently to ensure justice was served,” Thurston County Prosecutor Jon Tunheim said. “We also extend our gratitude to our law enforcement partners for their thorough investigative work and strong partnership throughout this case.”
Officers responded to Chelan Lane on Aug. 21, 2023, after several reports of gunfire. They found Fraley dead with multiple gunshot wounds. Prosecutors alleged Brodrick went to Fraley’s home after an online dispute and shot him with a rifle before fleeing the scene.
Investigators first identified Brodrick as a suspect with the help of witness statements and home surveillance footage. Court records indicate a network of people aided Brodrick after the shooting.
Officers tracked down Brodrick at a fast-food restaurant on Quinault Drive Northeast in Lacey after an “intensive” four-day search, according to the Prosecutor’s Office news release and court records.
Court records say Brodrick was initially non-compliant, so officers used a taser and a police dog to take him into custody.
Following his arrest, Brodrick told investigators he had been hiding in a Tumwater motel that another person booked for him. He reportedly used a disguise of a hat and a face mask during his stay.
Judge John Skinder ordered Brodrick to be held without bail during his preliminary appearance on Sept. 12, 2023. He had remained in custody at the county jail since his arrest.
Brodrick also is defendant in a drug-related case in Lewis County Superior Court, according to court records.
As the case progressed, Brodrick’s attorneys argued he acted in self-defense. In an Oct. 14, 2023, filing, his attorney alleged Fraley beat Brodrick days prior to the shooting and Brodrick confronted him about burglarizing his home.
The neighbors reportedly exchanged death threats over numerous incidents. Brodrick also alleged Fraley recorded a close friend of his while she slept and he touched her.
Fraley had been charged with first-degree arson, harassment and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm in a 2022 case in Thurston County Superior Court, but the court dismissed those charges on Dec. 1, 2022, at the PAO’s request.
During his trial, Brodrick maintained he acted in self-defense, the news release says, but the jury ultimately convicted him of first-degree murder.
Judge Carol Murphy presided over the jury trial. Brodrick is expected to be sentenced at a March 7 hearing.
