Suspect in west Spokane killing accused of shooting roommate in head during argument

The man accused of shooting his roomate Monday afternoon in west Spokane allegedly was arguing with the victim about the suspect’s sister.

Tyler Clark, 24, is facing a charge of second-degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing Emmitt D. Palmer, his 22-year-old roommate who used to date Clark’s sister. She also lived with the pair.

Clark’s bail was set at $500,000 on Tuesday afternoon by Spokane County District Judge Sara Derr. He also has a no-contact order with anyone living in the residence where the shooting occurred, including his sister. Clark’s public defender did not argue the bond amount.

The incident began at about 12:30 p.m. Monday, when Palmer’s ex-girlfriend arrived home at their apartment at 1001 S. Westcliff Place and received text messages from Palmer about their finances, according to court documents. When the woman left for work in a friend’s car , Palmer followed her at “a high rate of speed” in her vehicle but returned to the apartment.

The woman called 911, reporting the vehicle Palmer was driving as stolen, according to court documents. When she got to work, she sat in the parking lot and called Clark, her brother, and asked him to take some of her things and secure them because she was worried Palmer might damage them.

A friend of the woman. who was in the car with her, told police she could hear Palmer and Clark struggling in the background. At one point, she said she heard over the phone Clark tell Palmer to, “Back away, back off.” After more arguing, she heard gunshots.

According to Palmer’s ex-girlfriend’s statements to police, she also heard Clark say on the phone call, “I don’t want to do this, let’s just stop. I just don’t want you treating my baby sister bad.”

When police arrived at the home just before 2 p.m., Clark acknowledged he “pulled the trigger,” court documents state. Clark told police that Palmer had him in a leg-lock.