Custer man enters plea in first-degree murder case over driveway shooting
The Custer man accused of fatally shooting a 70-year-old man in his driveway on Aug. 6 pleaded not guilty to first-degree premeditated murder in Whatcom County Superior Court on Friday.
Donald Edward Malone, 61, shot Vaughn S. Hagen while preparing Malone’s mother’s estate for sale. Hagen was the executor of the estate and served as her certified public accountant, according to court records.
Hagen had rented a U-Haul to help clean out Malone’s mother’s garage, court documents state. He found Malone at a nearby store and offered to drive him back to the estate, where Malone was also living at the time.
Malone, who told police that he disliked Hagen, rode his bike home instead. When he saw Hagen pulling into the driveway, court documents state he grabbed a handgun and shot Hagen at least five times.
Malone turned himself in to police the following day. He remains in custody at Whatcom County Jail in lieu of $2 million bail as of Friday morning.