Woman charged with murder after fight over political sign turns into deadly shooting in Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - A fight over a political sign ended in a deadly shooting outside of a home in Mount Vernon.  

A 55-year-old woman, Angela Conijn, is charged with second-degree murder for the death of 32-year-old Kamran Cohee of Arlington. 

The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to reports of a fight at Conjin's home around 5:30 Saturday evening.

According to court documents, Conijn’s husband, 58-year-old John Conijn, told detectives he saw a car in his driveway "and believed someone was stealing his political sign."

Police initially wouldn't say what kind of sign it was, but have since confirmed that it was a sign for Loren Culp, the Republican gubernatorial candidate who lost to Gov. Jay Inslee in November.

Conijn said he confronted Cohee and a man about the sign. Moments later, a fight broke out, and Conijn claimed he was "chased back to his residence."

Conijn told detectives that Cohee and the man were beating on his door with a wheelbarrow.

Moments later, he and his wife Angela came back outside and Angela shot a gun "towards the end of the driveway where the vehicle was located." The bullet hit Cohee where she was standing between the house and the car.

Public information officers with the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office said another 911 call came in — this time from a man saying his friend was shot.

The man was in his car when he flagged down deputies saying Cohee had just been shot and was in the driveway. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say the Conjins did not know Cohee or her friend. 

John Conijn was charged with assault and has since been released from jail on bail. 

Angela Conijn’s bail was set at $500,000. She is scheduled for a court hearing Wednesday, February 17, at 11:30 a.m. at the Skagit County Community Justice Center.

A GoFundMe account was created to help raise money for funeral expenses for Cohee.