Murder Charge Filed Against Man Accused In Sam's Tavern Killing

BELLEVUE, WA — A man accused of killing his estranged wife at Sam's Tavern, using a handgun stolen from his brother's safe, was charged Thursday in King County, accused of first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. During an initial hearing earlier in the week, a judge set bail for Dylan Scott Jennings at $3 million.

In charging documents Thursday, prosecutors said Jennings had a history of domestic violence, including a 2015 case where he was convicted of strangling a girlfriend until she nearly lost consciousness. In Monday's shooting, investigators said Jennings admitted to killing his estranged wife, Anna "Maxx" Lopez, and showed no regret, telling detectives he was "taking care of business."

Prosecutors write:

"In this case the defendant formulated and carried out a plan to shoot and kill his estranged
wife. The defendant and his wife had separated, and she had started dating someone else. The defendant was angry about this and approximately a week and a half before the murder he stole his brother’s gun safe, used a hacksaw to break into the safe, and stole the 9mm handgun inside. After considering his plan for over a week, he put the gun in a holster and drove his motorcycle to the bar in downtown Bellevue where his estranged wife was finishing work for the evening. He walked into the bar and shot and killed her. The defendant confessed to investigators that he killed his estranged wife because she was involved with someone else. During the interview with investigators the defendant showed no remorse and blamed his estranged wife for leaving him and for dating someone else."

Prosecutors noted Thursday that six of the 28 murder charges filed in King County this year have been domestic violence cases. In 2020, the county recorded its highest number of domestic violence homicides since 2007, at 18. During the pandemic, prosecutors launched an online portal, allowing people to remotely file for a protection order.

In the Bellevue case, Jennings is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on July 22, where he is expected to enter a plea.