Wash. man accused of killing neighbor because he was throwing rocks, making too much noise

BLAINE, Wash. (TCD) — A 76-year-old man allegedly shot and killed his neighbor amid an ongoing dispute about making too much noise.

According to a news release, on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at approximately 4 p.m., Whatcom County deputies and Blaine Police Department officers were dispatched to a home off California Trail Road after a 911 caller reported that Wayne Mahar had shot his neighbor.

A neighbor reportedly heard the gunshots, went outside, and saw Mahar on his porch holding a firearm. The neighbor told officials she saw the victim lying on his driveway and asked Mahar if he shot the man, to which he replied, “Yeah.”

At the scene, deputies found the victim and performed CPR but were unsuccessful.

Officials arrested Mahar without incident.

The Sheriff’s Office learned Mahar had allegedly “threatened to kill the victim because he was throwing rocks at his house and making too much noise.”

The statement said Mahar “claimed the victim was an ‘a–hole’ who deserved to be dead.”

Mahar also confessed that he wished to kill his neighbor but failed to provide any alleged threats or other previous types of harassment that the victim allegedly made toward him.

According to KING-TV, Mahar told officials he consumed one shot of alcohol on the day of the shooting. His blood alcohol level was .189, which is more than two times Washington’s legal limit.

Mahar was booked into the Whatcom County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder. He remains held on $2 million bond.

Mahar had previously threatened to kill his neighbor, KING reports. On Nov. 17, 2022, Mahar reportedly made a noise complaint against the victim. Mahar allegedly told officials he wanted to kill the victim, but authorities told him to let the Sheriff’s Office to deal with the issue.

A day before the victim’s shooting death, Mahar allegedly threatened to kill the victim again.

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