PORT ORCHARD — A South Kitsap man entered a plea of not guilty in Kitsap County Superior Court April 24 after being charged with second-degree murder in the death of 48-year-old David Ray Pettit, also of South Kitsap.

Pettit was described by Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office detectives as having been engaged in an angry confrontation on April 20 with Shawn Michael Dean Hamlin, 38, on property in the 12100 block of SE Triviere Trail in unincorporated South Kitsap. The two men reportedly had been acquaintances for about a year.

A Sheriff’s Office report stated that during the visit, Pettit became angry over “various issues and demanded that Hamlin go away.” An argument ensued, with Hamlin agreeing to leave, but he wanted to gather his Airsoft guns before departing. When Pettit approached Hamlin, the report continued, the two became involved in a scuffle.

The report stated that during the incident, a firearm Hamlin had in his possession discharged. Believing that Pettit was stunned, not shot, the suspect told detectives he packed up his gear, his supply of alcohol, and left the location. He reportedly returned later in the day to check on Pettit but didn’t get a response at his door.

Hamlin told detectives he didn’t call 911 because he didn’t believe Pettit (also known as David Ray Garcia) was shot or injured.

On the evening of April 21, patrol deputies and South Kitsap Fire and Rescue personnel were summoned to the property by a friend of the victim, where they found Pettit deceased, with evidence of completely burned gunpowder, called stippling, on his face.

A warrant was obtained by detectives and investigators took possession of the victim’s body, his residence and property for evidence.

Sheriff’s detectives, who stated in the report they had probable cause to arrest Hamlin, booked him on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree burglary. Bail was set at $1 million.

An autopsy of Pettit by the county’s forensic pathologist, the Kitsap County Coroner, found his cause of death to be a homicide gunshot wound to the head.

On April 24, Hamlin was reported to have called sheriff’s deputies to give information about what he knew concerning Pettit and Pettit’s property.

He told them he wanted to provide details because of news media attention to the case.

Following their interview, detectives provided the suspect with his Miranda Rights and arrested him.

David Ray Pettit of South Kitsap reportedly was shot in the head by Port Orchard resident Shawn Michael Dean Hamlin of Port Orchard April 20 at Pettit’s property on SE Triviere Trail in unincorporated South Kitsap County. Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies later arrested Hamlin as the suspect in Pettit’s murder. (Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office photo)