A 19-year-old man is accused of stabbing another man to death during an argument at a Camano Island home Feb. 20, according to court documents.

The suspect, Gabriel Birch, appeared in Island County Superior Court Monday. Judge Vickie Churchill found that probable cause existed to hold Birch on suspicion of first-degree manslaughter.

Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Eric Ohme noted that Birch does not have a criminal record but presents a risk of flight since he has no residence and no job to return to. Plus, Ohme said, there’s a risk that Birch will commit another violent act.

Churchill agreed and set his bail at $150,000.

A Camano Island woman called 911 in the morning of Feb. 20 to report that Birch had stabbed and killed her son, 24-year-old Thomas McKnight, during an altercation.

Birch had been dating the woman’s daughter and was living at the house. A 13-year-old child also lived there; McKnight had been staying in recent weeks.

Birch allegedly told a deputy that he was sorry and did not mean to kill McKnight, according to a report by Detective Chris Peabody with the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

Birch said the residents started arguing after the homeowner threatened to kick Birch out and have McKnight arrested for an unspecified reason.

McKnight grabbed Birch’s ex-girlfriend by the face. Birch grabbed a knife and yelled at McKnight to leave her alone.

McKnight grabbed Birch by the front of the neck and had his hand back like he was going to punch him; Birch’s ex-girlfriend was trying to pull McKnight back, according to the police report.

Birch said he stabbed McKnight in the chest three times as they both started falling to the ground, Peabody wrote.

McKnight got up, walked out of the bedroom and collapsed in the hallway, where he died.