78-year-old Washington man sentenced for killing neighbor over loud music

A 78-year-old Washington state man has been sentenced to prison after admitting he shot and killed his next-door neighbor during a dispute over loud music, including a song from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

David Boyd, of Clarkston, was sentenced to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement and first-degree unlawful possession of a gun, court records show. Boyd was 76 when he killed 53-year-old Chad VanScotter in January 2025.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Boyd told police VanScotter had been “bullying him for months” by playing “loud music” that kept him from sleeping.

Before the shooting, Boyd wrote a note describing his anger toward VanScotter. “This a— hole has pushed me past my limit,” Boyd wrote. “I’m going to kill him and then myself I can’t take anymore.”

Police said the shooting happened shortly before 9 p.m. on Jan. 28, 2025, at adjacent apartments on the 1200 block of Ash Street in Clarkston. Boyd allegedly told investigators he “got up and went to Chad’s apartment with his pistol to confront [him].”

Boyd claimed VanScotter answered the door holding “a long stick in his hand” and “swung it at him several times, hitting him in the head area,” according to the affidavit. Boyd said he then opened fire.

Investigators said Boyd was frustrated by noise coming from VanScotter’s apartment earlier that day.

“David advised that around 1 p.m. … Chad came home and put his radio against the wall and was blaring Mister Rogers from inside his apartment,” the affidavit said.

“David advised he watches TV with earphones because he is hard of hearing and to be courteous to his neighbors,” the affidavit added. “David advised he could hear Chad’s noise over his.”

Boyd told police he tried to sleep around 5:30 p.m. but was “tossing and turning and could not sleep” because of the noise. He said he was “about to nod off” when VanScotter allegedly moved the radio closer to Boyd’s bedroom wall and turned it back on.

“David stated he was totally stressed out by Chad doing this for so long,” the affidavit said. “David advised Chad is a ‘bully’ and is scared of him. David advised that he ‘lost it’ and couldn’t take it anymore.”

After the shooting, Boyd returned to his apartment and “was going to shoot himself,” police said, but “could not bring himself to do it so he called 911.” Officers arrived and found VanScotter dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

Boyd admitted using a .38-caliber revolver. When asked why he did not call police about the noise, Boyd said officers had responded before but “can never do anything about it.” He also allegedly said he was “relieved that this is over” and claimed he did nothing wrong because “bully’s deserve this.”

Police found the revolver and notes inside Boyd’s apartment, including one that read, “If you find me dead please call Shannon Giesegle … thank you Dave” and another saying, “PS please just let me go I’m tired and my heart is worn out do not resesatute me Dave.”

Boyd had initially faced a first-degree murder charge in Asotin County Superior Court before accepting a plea deal.