Teen boy arrested in fatal Auburn shooting was dressed as woman

James Anthony Mills, the teenage boy wanted in connection with Sunday's fatal shooting in Auburn, cut his dreadlocks and donned a wig, dress and ladies shoes in an attempt to avoid capture.

On Monday night, as two Auburn police officers walked up to the porch of Mills' Kent home, they encountered someone dressed in women's clothing. When the person turned around, the officers were stunned to find they were face to face with the suspect in the killing, said Auburn police Cmdr. Mike Hirman.

"For a moment the officers weren't quite sure who they had there. They did recognize him shortly after that," Hirman said. "They were very surprised."

Mills, 16, immediately surrendered to the officers, Hirman said. He was booked into the King County Youth Service Center for investigation of murder.

Although he has not been charged, police released Mills' name and a description as they searched for him Monday.

Mills, who is being held without bail, is scheduled to have his first court hearing Wednesday. He will automatically face prosecution as an adult if he's charged with murder.

On Tuesday morning, police obtained a warrant to search the home of one of Mills' brothers for the weapon used in the slaying but came up empty-handed, Hirman said.

Mills is suspected of killing Adrian Wilson, 16, at a birthday barbecue at the Aspen Meadows Apartments around 5 p.m. Sunday. Hirman said Mills and Wilson were involved in some sort of dispute, possibly over a girl.

Two other men were wounded and taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where they remained in serious condition Tuesday, Hirman said.

Gabriel Wilson, the father of the slain teen, was arrested after the shooting on three counts of investigation of first-degree assault for allegedly firing shots during the melee, police said.

On Tuesday, a judge ordered that the 46-year-old man remain in custody at the King County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail.

According to police, the elder Wilson armed himself after his son was shot and chased Mills. When he couldn't catch the teen, he returned to the area where his son was killed and fired several rounds into a nearby apartment where three people were living. Nobody was hurt, according to a statement of probable cause released by King County prosecutors Tuesday.

Gabriel Wilson told police he shot at the apartment because he believed the suspect in his son's shooting liked to hang out there, the probable-cause statement said. Police said the man fired 13 rounds into the apartment.

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com