Man fatally shot in Custer was handling estate of suspect’s mother, son says
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- Prosecutors charged Donald Malone with first-degree murder in Vaughn Hagen's death.
- Malone allegedly shot Hagen, his late mother’s estate executor, multiple times.
- Hagen, described as generous and honest, was helping Malone settle the estate.
The Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office has filed official charges against a Custer man accused of fatally shooting a 70-year-old man in his driveway.
Donald Edward Malone, 61, has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder for his role in the Aug. 6 death of Vaughn S. Hagen, 70.
Hagen was known to Malone, as he was the executor of Hagen’s mother’s estate in Custer and served as her certified public accountant. Malone had been living in his mother’s house at the estate, according to court documents.
Hagen had known Malone’s family for several years, and he was helping Malone prepare the estate for sale, according to Vaughn Hagen’s son, Matthew Hagen.
Vaughn Hagen had rented a van to help with cleaning out Malone’s garage. According to Matthew Hagen he arrived at the residence when Malone was not home. Hagen found him in a nearby store and offered to give him a ride back to the estate, according to Matthew Hagen.
Malone said to give him a minute to buy groceries for dinner, but left the store on his bike to avoid Vaughn Hagen, taking back roads to get home, according to court documents.
Vaughn Hagen went back to the estate and pulled into the driveway.
Malone allegedly saw him arrive, went to his bedroom, grabbed a handgun and started to approach Hagen. Without saying anything, Malone shot him around five to seven times, according to court documents. He later told detectives Vaughn Hagen said “Donald, no,” before he died.
When detectives asked Malone why he shot Hagen, he said “I don’t like him,” according to court documents.
Malone waited on his porch for police to arrive and arrest him but when it started to get darker he moved Hagen’s body inside “so the animals wouldn’t get it” and went to bed, according to court documents.
Malone took a bus to the sheriff’s office in Bellingham the next morning and turned himself in. Court documents indicate when deputies asked Malone why he shot the other man, he replied, “I don’t like him.”
Detectives entered the garage with Malone’s permission and retrieved Vaughn Hagen’s body.
“He was the most honest guy you will ever meet. My dad never drank, never smoked. … his only vice was crossword puzzles,” Matthew Hagen told The Herald. “He is probably the most unselfish man I have ever met in my life.”
Malone remains in custody at Whatcom County Jail.
“My dad was doing good things just trying to help, he wasn’t there trying to steal anything. He was the executor of the estate. He wasn’t gonna be collecting fees or money from it. All the money would go to the son (Malone),” Matthew Hagen said.
Matthew Hagen said his father was helping Malone find a new residence closer to town for him after they sold the estate, and that he had been helping the Malone family pay bills. He would also do the taxes for the family for free because of their financial situation.
“All he did was help them. There was no ill will toward them. All he did was help people, and he would never ask for anything in return — ever,” Matthew Hagen said. “The fact that Donald shot him is kinda crazy.”
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