A Granite Falls man was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bail today in connection with the shooting death of his girlfriend Sunday morning.

Everett District Court Judge Tam Bui found probable cause to hold Modesto Cruz Mejia, 25, for investigation of first-degree manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Mejia told police he picked up the gun after the couple had been intimate, according to a police report.

He said the weapon accidentally fired, the bullet hitting Joanna Marsh, 22, in her torso. He also told police the gun was part of the couple's foreplay.

The couple's two children were in the room when the shooting occurred. They were unharmed.

Mejia has a history of assault and domestic violence, police said.

He told police he usually kept the loaded handgun and a shotgun near his bed to use as protection if he was robbed.

Police learned the couple had a history of violent arguments and Mejia said Marsh would get upset over his drinking.

Court documents describe Mejia as unemployed. Mejia told police he and Marsh had not argued the day before the shooting and he called himself an "idiot" for shooting her.

There had been a party Saturday at the couple's home in the 23200 block of 134th Street NE to celebrate Mejia's birthday, police said.

Mejia recently purchased the handgun used in the shooting and told detectives he was handling it at the party and carrying it in the waistband of his pants.

Mejia admitted to police he and Marsh were drunk. He drank more than a six-pack of beer, he said, and Marsh drank nearly as many hard lemonades.