Murder Suspect Arrested Man With Long Record Charged In Shooting

A man with a long criminal record was charged with first-degree murder Friday in the shooting of another convicted felon.

Police believe Venice L. Wilbert, 35, shot Larry Boulger just before midnight Monday in an apartment at 211 S. Lacey.

Friends and relatives discovered Boulger, 38, dead the next morning in his own apartment across the street.

Acting District Court Commissioner Brad Chinn on Friday set Wilbert’s bail at $1 million, prompting the suspect to laugh.

Authorities said Wilbert has been convicted of at least 12 crimes in Washington and California, including assault, drug possession and intimidation with a weapon.

He was released from jail earlier this month after serving 60 days for punching a police officer and carrying crack cocaine, according to records filed in Spokane County Superior Court.

Wilbert told several people he shot Boulger once in the chest, according to a sworn affidavit filed in Spokane County District Court.

One witness said Wilbert told him that Boulger got up after he was shot and left the apartment through the back door, the affidavit states.

The man, who wasn’t identified, also told police he saw Wilbert carry a .45-caliber handgun, according to the records.

A woman who lives in the apartment where the shooting reportedly took place said she heard Wilbert arguing with another man inside just before a shot rang out, according to the documents.

The woman, who also wasn’t identified, told police she then heard Wilbert say, “…I smoked him,” the affidavit states. The woman said she was in bed at the time.

Another woman said Wilbert “told her that a friend took care of the gun,” according to the court records.

Boulger apparently walked around the neighborhood after he was shot.

The affidavit states that residents of a house in the 2700 block of East Pacific heard loud knocking at their door at 11:59 p.m.

No one was there when they answered, but there was blood around the door and a gate, according to the documents.

Boulger eventually made his way to his apartment at 222 S. Lacey where his brother let him inside.

Gary Boulger said he noticed nothing wrong with his brother until the next morning.

Police refused to discuss a motive for the shooting.

But detectives said in the affidavit that police officers who stopped Boulger three blocks from his home at 11:50 p.m. Monday - 10 minutes before police believe he was shot - noticed “he had injuries on his hands from a prior incident…”

Detectives arrested Wilbert on Thursday night at a house where he had been living in the 200 block of South Fiske.

Boulger had 20 convictions for crimes including assault, forgery and drunken driving.

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