Arcan Cetin was the 20 year old suspect who was charged with killing five people at a mall in Washington state last year. On Monday, he was found dead hanging from his neck in his jail cell in what was apparently a suicide. He was found unresponsive and any efforts to revive the prisoner has failed.
His death is currently under investigation, although that seems a touch unnecessary as he was obviously overcome with guilt for the terrible things that he had done.
Cetin was charged with shooting a teenage girl, a man and three women. When he was captured 30 hours later, he confessed during the police interviews, but had no reason as to why he did it. A family member of one of his victims was shocked by his death, but said that they hope he repented to God before his death. They also commented saying they were afraid that he would be released, but they harbor no ill will towards his family.
From Fox:
Cetin had been charged with aggravated murder, which can bring the death penalty, but he had not entered pleas pending mental evaluations. His attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
The 20-year-old had a history of violent behavior toward his family and ex-girlfriend. Cetin’s stepfather, David Marshall, said the family had been trying to get Cetin help for mental health issues.
According to police reports, Cetin had told his ex that his father was connected to “bad people in Turkey.” Asked during interviews whether his Turkish relatives had ties to terrorist groups, Cetin said no. He also said he didn’t have any contact with those relatives.
He said he had watched beheadings by the Islamic State group online but considered such terrorist actions wrong. Asked if ISIS had inspired the mall killings, Cetin responded, “I can’t answer that,” police wrote.
The shootings were captured on surveillance video. The victims were Sarai Lara, 16, and Shayla Martin, 52, both of Mount Vernon; Eagan, 61, of Lake Stevens; Belinda Galde, 64, of Arlington; and Galde’s mother, Beatrice Dotson, 95, of Kingsport, Tennessee.