PALMER — A 22-year-old man charged with murder in an early morning shooting Monday at a Palmer gas station told police the shooting followed a roughly two-year feud, according to charges filed Tuesday.
Isaac Beshaw told investigators he had reached “a boiling point” with 22-year-old Steven Williams, according to a sworn affidavit filed with the criminal complaint by police Det. Matthew Moore. Beshaw said Williams had made allegations about him and made “indirect threats” the night before the shooting, the affidavit said.
Williams was working behind the counter at the Speedway Gas station when he was fatally shot, it said.
Williams’ fiancee told officers that he had argued with someone matching Beshaw’s description on Saturday, according to the complaint.
Surveillance video showed a man wearing a hat and sunglasses with his face covered entering the gas station, approaching the register and firing multiple shots toward Williams, the affidavit said. Police said Williams was dead when officers arrived.
Beshaw was located outside an address in Palmer he shared with his mother, the complaint said. He initially said he was not involved in the shooting, then asked for an attorney, prompting investigators to suspend their interview, according to the affidavit. After having his rights read to him a second time, Beshaw told investigators that he shot Williams and left clothes he was wearing in the area before returning home, it said.
Police said they recovered a Springfield Armory SA-35 9mm 1911 style handgun from the residence, according to the complaint.
Beshaw was charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering. His first court appeance was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.