CLARKSTON, WA – A 78-year-old Clarkston man has been sentenced following a fatal shooting triggered by a long-running dispute over loud music with his next-door neighbor.
The Sentencing
David Boyd, 78, was sentenced in Asotin County Superior Court after pleading guilty to second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement, alongside first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. The final sentencing follows an extensive investigation into the January 2025 incident.
Fatal Dispute Over Noise
According to court records, Boyd had grown increasingly frustrated with his neighbor, 53-year-old Chad VanScotter. Boyd accused VanScotter of “bullying him for months” by repeatedly blasting loud music through their shared wall, preventing him from sleeping. Among the tracks repeatedly played was the theme song from the children’s television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
The situation escalated dramatically on the night of January 28, 2025. Investigations revealed that Boyd attempted to sleep around 5:30 p.m. when VanScotter allegedly moved his radio closer to the bedroom wall and turned up the volume.
The Escalation and Arrest
Before confronting his neighbor, Boyd penned a note detailing his intent. He then walked next door armed with a .38-caliber revolver.
According to a probable cause affidavit, when VanScotter opened the door, a brief physical alteration ensued involving a stick. Boyd then fired multiple shots, striking VanScotter twice in the chest and once in the head.
Following the shooting, Boyd returned to his own apartment and immediately called 911 to report the incident to emergency dispatchers. Investigators noted that Boyd expressed a sense of relief to authorities during subsequent interviews, citing extreme stress from the ongoing neighborhood dispute.
