Police: Teens kill acquaintance, burn down home to conceal murder

AUBURN, Wash. -- Two men are under arrest, an adult man and a teenage boy, both accused of shooting and killing 19-year-old Michael Clayton and then setting fire to his home in an attempt to conceal the crime.

A 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old juvenile suspect are both under arrest and could be facing serious charges.

Court documents reveal the man and teen may have killed Michael Clayton for beating up one of the suspects.

Police believe the two made a plan to wait at the trailer where Clayton and shoot him.

Police arrested the two suspects Friday in Aberdeen, they were found driving a stolen truck owned by the City of Kent.

Neighbors in Clayton’s quiet area of Auburn said they are stunned by the murder.

“It makes everyone uneasy,” said Brooke Zielinski.

Siblings Brooke and Zack Zielinski are still rattled by a fire that erupted next door in a mobile trailer last week.

Police believe it was intentionally set to conceal a murder.

Last Thursday investigators recovered the body of 19-year-old Michael Clayton from the rubble. Police believe his murder was payback for an assault against one of the suspects.

“It’s a reminder of what irresponsible humans are capable of,” Zack said.

The Zielinski’s said police found a handgun on their grandparent’s property, which neighbors said is next to Clayton’s home.

Brooke said she is still shaken up – she told investigators she saw two people running through a gate around the time of the murder.

“We saw two people like slide through it and bolt off,” she said. “The gun was found right where they bolted off to.”

The suspects’ identities have not been released because they have not been charged with a crime, but the two men are behind bars.

Murder, arson and firearms charges could be filed in the case.