Update: 4 dead, 1 survivor in West Seattle shooting on 14th SW

(These updates run through late Thursday night – we will start a new followup story by midmorning Friday)

ORIGINAL 1:46 PM REPORT: We are on our way to the assault-with-weapons call at 14th and Roxbury – more when we know it. The scanner is talking about an “armed suspect” – stay clear of the area. It’s a reported shooting and police are not sure where the suspect is. Scanner indicates possible multiple victims but we don’t have any information yet on their condition(s) or the circumstances.

1:56 PM UPDATE: Two medic units were originally dispatched and a third is now being sent. Scanner confirms at least one patient with a gunshot wound. SWAT units are on the scene as well. The scanner also indicates at least two guns were found inside the house – described as a “9 millimeter and 25 automatic.” The actual address is in the 9400 block of 14th SW (map) which is closer to Cambridge than Roxbury.

2:04 PM UPDATE: One victim is described on scanner as appearing to have three gunshot wounds; this is a 42-year-old female. The medic says on the scanner that SPD has advised fire of possibly “two or three more patients with gunshot wounds.” According to our partners at the Seattle Times, the suspect has been initially described as a 61-year-old Asian woman in white shirt and gray sweatpants.”

2:18 PM UPDATE: Scanner says four DOAs in the house. Again, this is per the scanner, we are still waiting to hear from public info officer at the scene. One survivor, as mentioned earlier, was taken to the hospital. This is the second murder case in West Seattle in two days – after none for more than a year and a half.

2:29 PM UPDATE: Police have briefed media at the scene. We will upload video of the briefing shortly. They are not confirming the conditions of the people at the house but they say the suspect is believed to be one of the four people they say are inside the house. They say the original call came around 1 pm, “shots fired” – and when they arrived, they heard more shots fired. Roxbury is closed westbound near the scene – so traffic effects are stretching beyond the immediate scene.

2:42 PM UPDATE: Christopher Boffoli, part of the WSB team at the scene, says police confirm the four deaths and one survivor and believe that the suspect is among the dead. Assistant chief Jim Pugel’s briefing per Christopher: “Confirmed four dead, including the shooter who is a Southeast Asian woman in her late 50s or early 60’s. It is believed that all involved are the same family. The woman who was transported to Harborview is believed to be the daughter who told police ‘my mother has gone crazy.’ Two handguns were recovered. The husband was outside the house. He broke through the police cordon and went inside. He made it back out alive and is not among the victims. There is a language barrier the officers are working through.”

3:08 PM UPDATE: More from Christopher at the scene – regarding the language barrier, the family is reported to speak Cambodian, according to neighbors. (We did hear a scanner call earlier for a Cambodian translator.) Southwest Precinct commander Captain Joe Kessler is there – this comes just a week before a scheduled command change at the precinct. CSI vans also just arrived on scene about 10 minutes ago. Adding a few additional photos. (All photos we are using were taken by either Christopher Boffoli or Patrick Sand.)

3:15 PM UPDATE: Police are starting to release more information about the people who were found dead: Two women in their late teens and a man in his 30s, in addition to the suspected shooter, now described as a woman in her fifties. Meantime, Christopher reports Roxbury has reopened to traffic – but is slow going with rubberneckers passing what is a clearly visible, sizable police presence.

3:33 PM UPDATE: Seattle Police have posted a summary in multiple tweets – we will transcribe here since they have not posted to their SPD Blotter site yet:

Around 1:31 p.m. officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 9400 block of 14th Avenue SW. Upon arrival, they made contact with an adult female in her 30s who had been shot in the 1400 block of SW Roxbury. Shots were still being fired. While police were still arriving a man in his 50s ran into the house in question. Two more shots were fired and he ran back out. Officers contacted him. He told officers that his wife had shot herself. Officers entered the house and located four people deceased, two women in their late teens, a man in his thirties and a woman in her 50s. Medics were not able to revive any of them. The woman who was discovered outside of the house was transported to HMC for treatment of gunshot injuries. It is believed that the deceased woman in her 50s was the shooter. Two handguns have been recovered. We don’t believe that there are any other victims. Homicide, SWAT, CSI and KCSO are on scene. No motive is known. This is an active investigation and this information is preliminary. Check here for further updates.

4:25 PM UPDATE: Here’s video of Sgt. Sean Whitcomb from the SPD media unit in what’s likely to be the last briefing of the day – he called the crime scene “pretty vicious”:

4:55 PM UPDATE: Our partners at the Seattle Times report that some kind of dispute had reportedly erupted at the home last night – here’s their story, which also is continuing to develop.

7:28 PM UPDATE: Checking back at the scene: Police say the medical examiner has just arrived – which would indicate the victims’ bodies have not yet been removed. In the past two hours, we also have added a few more images from this afternoon, photographed as events unfolded. (The photo atop the story is still a cameraphone picture sent from the scene shortly after we arrived.) At the scene tonight, people are still being kept at a distance, media included. In case you are wondering whether anyone has set up any kind of a memorial – no one has been allowed close enough for anything like that to be arranged, or visible.

8:12 PM NOTE: The White Center Community Safety Coalition, whose coverage area includes the neighborhood where today’s shooting happened, had its regularly scheduled meeting tonight, barely a block away from the scene. We attended (we usually cover it anyway for partner site White Center Now) but – not surprisingly – law enforcers weren’t there this time, so there was no new information about the case. The basic summary on SPD Blotter remains the most recent official word.

10:50 PM
: Two images from the scene tonight, from Christopher Boffoli. In the first, you see authorities inside the residence, as they prepared to bring out the four bodies:

Official identification is not expected before tomorrow. The Times has spoken to family members and has published the names they were given (here’s their updated story) – reporting that the two teenage girls who were killed were the alleged killer’s granddaughters, 17 and 14 years old.

123 Replies to "Update: 4 dead, 1 survivor in West Seattle shooting on 14th SW"

  • Lachlan September 23, 2010 (1:48 pm)

    Gahhhhhhh- this is right near my house!

  • Tex September 23, 2010 (1:51 pm)

    A friend of mine just left my house to stumble on this happening. He said there are cops and swat with guns drawn and people being escorted out of area.

  • JD September 23, 2010 (1:51 pm)

    So far about 10 police units and one Fire Dept. commanders vehicle have gone past Delridge and
    Henderson in the past 5-10 minutes…looks like
    a major incident

  • coffee September 23, 2010 (1:59 pm)

    Isn’t that just behind the bartell’s? That would put it out of the city limits, correct?

  • WTF September 23, 2010 (2:01 pm)

    WTF is wrong with people?

  • Mookie September 23, 2010 (2:02 pm)

    It’s only 3 houses north of Roxbury on 14th SW.

  • Adam September 23, 2010 (2:03 pm)

    The 9400 block is north of Roxbury. It’s inside Seattle city limits.

  • Chris September 23, 2010 (2:03 pm)

    @coffee? Does it really matter what side of the street it happened on? It’s still a part of the entire Delridge/White Center/Highland Park Community AND a tragedy! Regardless of where it happened, if the reports that the shooter is at large it affects the entire area!

  • Cami September 23, 2010 (2:03 pm)

    No rest for WSB.

  • D.C. September 23, 2010 (2:03 pm)

    I would have thought it’d be King County, but SPD tweeted that PIOs are on the way to the scene.

    ” SeattlePD:
    PIOs enroute to shooting near14th Avenue SW and SW Barton.”

    • WSB September 23, 2010 (2:09 pm)

      Guys, we have two people at the scene. It’s in the city. Seattle Fire, Seattle Police. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some mutual-aid from KCSO but this is in the city. And it is NOT a stable scene yet, so keep far away. I am monitoring the scanner, twitter, other sources, while our crews at the scene will get official police info and report back on what they are seeing. I will be continuing to add to the main story above – Tracy

  • jay September 23, 2010 (2:08 pm)

    Medics on the scanner just sent the first patient to Harborview and say that police report 2-3 more gunshot victims haven’t yet been evaluated.

    Oh, and the scanner just put out a call for cambodian-speaking officers for this incident. That could describe why information has been so jumbled.

  • Lachlan September 23, 2010 (2:09 pm)

    Seattlecrime.com says 4 victims inside the home. Scary & sad.

  • D.C. September 23, 2010 (2:10 pm)

    Too late to edit my previous post, but I just looked it up and the city limits end at Roxbury, so the address given is definitely on the SPD side.

  • coffee September 23, 2010 (2:13 pm)

    Chris, just wondering where, and whom the responding agencies are. I live in the area but I have KC as responders.

  • Que September 23, 2010 (2:15 pm)

    “the suspect has been initially described as a 61-year-old Asian woman”

    I bet that defies most people’s assumptions about the potential perpetrator…

  • kad September 23, 2010 (2:17 pm)

    Just saw this on MSNBC.com

  • Michelle September 23, 2010 (2:19 pm)

    I just heard a helicopter hovering near my house and looked out; saw it was the news and came here to find out what’s going on. Thanks for being on top of things.

  • Rachel September 23, 2010 (2:20 pm)

    This is so scary. I can hear choppers over my house and I have 2 infants with me. Hurry and catch her!!!

  • ad September 23, 2010 (2:21 pm)

    Is Roxhill in lockdown? :/ Once again feeling bad for those students…

  • jedifarfy September 23, 2010 (2:23 pm)

    Yikes! Do you know if they have the suspect in custody? I just jumped on the scanner. So sad, what is happening this week?!

  • Brad September 23, 2010 (2:23 pm)

    Well our house was just ransacked by police and my garage has a freshly kicked in door… this sucks

  • cathyw September 23, 2010 (2:23 pm)

    Oh No! So sad. :(

  • Ginger September 23, 2010 (2:24 pm)

    What a crazy scene..I can’t imagine how things like this happen right in our own backyard. I hope the “several children inside the house during the shooting” as reported by SeattleCrime.com are all safe and not among the dead or injured. Prayers for the family..

  • bsmomma September 23, 2010 (2:27 pm)

    This is making me sick to my stomach….scared to death…..mad as hell…….

  • Kelly September 23, 2010 (2:27 pm)

    Yes, Roxhill is in lockdown. From the PI:
    “Southwest Roxbury Street is closed at 14th Avenue Southwest. Both Roxhill and Highland Park Elementary Schools were in a shelter in place. Students were being kept inside and not being allowed to leave.”

  • Mookie September 23, 2010 (2:30 pm)

    No word of Holy Family school on Roxbury being affected?

  • JJFringe September 23, 2010 (2:30 pm)

    msnbc.com is reporting 6 people shot via a “Breaking News” banner on the cover and a direct article:

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39332934/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

  • Rachel September 23, 2010 (2:31 pm)

    I am confused. If they think she is in the house, why are choppers over my home an why was Brad’s him ransacked?

  • coffee September 23, 2010 (2:32 pm)

    I hope Holy Family is in lockdown too. I believe you can file a claim when the police ransack your property.

  • ncd September 23, 2010 (2:32 pm)

    Seattle Times states SIX gunshot victims

    • WSB September 23, 2010 (2:51 pm)

      NCD, I don’t know where the Times got six. My initial report has been verified by police. Four dead, one survivor.

  • D.C. September 23, 2010 (2:32 pm)

    The PI is reporting that the suspect killed herself.

    http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/archives/222418.asp?from=blog_last3

  • N September 23, 2010 (2:33 pm)

    Two blocks away and it’s hectic here! Cars are zooming by trying to get out of Roxbury. Definitely do not feel safe at the moment.

  • onceachef September 23, 2010 (2:34 pm)

    It’s unbelievable that anyone would get into a discussion about what district this is in…PEOPLE ARE DEAD!!! WTF does it matter which side of the county line it’s on? Wake up!

  • sam September 23, 2010 (2:46 pm)

    if the shooter supposedly shot themselves, why did 2 unmarked police cars go flying south on Delridge with their sirens blaring at 2:45 ?

  • Jiggers September 23, 2010 (2:49 pm)

    I’m watching live video courtesy of KING 5 helicopter..Way cool..

  • Val Vashon September 23, 2010 (2:50 pm)

    I’m truly surprised. With two handguns in the house, those should have been the safest people in all of West Seattle. Maybe having a gun in the house make you less safe.

  • Rachel September 23, 2010 (2:50 pm)

    People care where this is and what district it is because we want to know the exact proximity to our homes. People also may have scanners and want to listen to the right channel

  • Ellenater September 23, 2010 (2:51 pm)

    …so sad right now.

  • Bob Payne September 23, 2010 (2:54 pm)

    Times reported six wounded originally, which is true. Four of those have died, and at least one of the other two was taken to Harborview.

  • Krystal September 23, 2010 (2:55 pm)

    I think people were curious about if it was in the city or not because of who would be the on the scene? I don’t know much about how that works, but maybe that’s why people were commenting on the boundaries.

    Very sad about this–let’s get this area the attention it needs and deserves with crime prevention and extra patrols (even is a bum economy)!

  • Jiggers September 23, 2010 (2:57 pm)

    Online at the Times, they changed the heading to West Seattle from White Center. What..they trying to be sensative to the area now?

  • GavMitri September 23, 2010 (2:57 pm)

    Highland Park is in lock down…just spoke to my husband that works there.

  • Krystal September 23, 2010 (2:58 pm)

    Que: good point, I think many of us, including myself, are guilty as charged on that one!

  • Amanda September 23, 2010 (3:01 pm)

    Wow, this is creepy stuff between yesterday and today. Thanks for being on top of it WSB.

  • sophista-tiki September 23, 2010 (3:02 pm)

    I wish the helecopters would stop circling already. Its very disturbing. Im just blocks from the scene, so sad that a woman felt that was her only option, and she had access to guns. Just over the top.
    If the woman killed herself, AND the husband came out of the house and stated what happened, I dont understand why the police had to ransack someones house.

  • d September 23, 2010 (3:03 pm)

    i left the WCCDA offices right around then – how on earth did i not see or hear this? i was right there! I am unclear what time this started? when?

    regardless, so very very tragic.

  • Michelle September 23, 2010 (3:12 pm)

    How will we know when the lockdown ends? Does that mean we can’t pick up our kids? My daughter is at Highland Park Elementary.

  • onceachef September 23, 2010 (3:14 pm)

    Rachel – I realize people care about “where it happened”. The address was provided…then people started talking about “why SPD responded and not KCSO”…that’s what I was referring to. A “district” is a big territory…the street address is the important information here, not who’s responding.

  • GavMitri September 23, 2010 (3:15 pm)

    You can pick up your children – from my husband at Highland Park. :)

  • J September 23, 2010 (3:16 pm)

    horrible new again – I love our neighborhood, and hate these reports (but thanks WSB – I saw the post on CNN and quickly moved to WBS for more details). Prayers and thoughts to the family and neighborhood.

  • LunaPark September 23, 2010 (3:18 pm)

    So, so sad. You have to wonder what makes life so bad for one person to think that the death of their family and self is the only answer. Our prayers are with all affected by this tragedy.

  • A neighbor September 23, 2010 (3:21 pm)

    So sorry for this family. This is such a tragedy and our prayers are with the surviving victim and extended family as well as neighbors and friends.

  • Jiggers September 23, 2010 (3:21 pm)

    I read 11 people lived in that one house. I would be goingg nutz too..

  • D.C. September 23, 2010 (3:22 pm)

    I know you are frustrated by the events, but it seems like you’re taking it out on us for wanting to know where it was and who responded. It’s very important to some of us, even if it’s not important to you.

  • HelperMonkey September 23, 2010 (3:23 pm)

    does anyone know at what streets Roxbury is blocked off?

  • Michelle September 23, 2010 (3:31 pm)

    The lockdown at Highland Park Elementary is over. Students left as usual.

  • HolyKow September 23, 2010 (3:32 pm)

    This could have happened in any neighborhood…Admiral, Gatewood, Queen Anne, Ballard, anywhere.

    However, between this and the one yesterday, never can tell when you will roll up on crazy.

    Stay frosty…do you know what you would have done if this was your neighbor that went bat guano crazy?

    Time to review “Ye Olde Family Emergency Response Plan”; update phone numbers, where would you go if the route home/ entire neighborhood was closed…who is your 3rd party contact that is not a person that lives in your town…plans for children that might be in a lock-down school…

    failure to prepare is preparing to fail…

    hk

  • Lindsey September 23, 2010 (3:35 pm)

    FYI Twitter is often a great source for breaking news. You don’t have to join to search it. Anyone can go to search.twitter.com to search hashtags like the one used in this case: #WSshooting

    That’s where I’m getting information, from reputable news sources like @westseattleblog, about street closures, updates, etc.

  • Chica September 23, 2010 (3:37 pm)

    This is right behind my house!!!!!!!!

  • WTF September 23, 2010 (3:39 pm)

    This is so sad. I continue with my question of WTF is wrong with people. I hope that this woman’s daughter; the presumed only survivor, gets the love and help she will so sorely need. My heart breaks for her. And, to whom ever god you believe, bless the victims.

  • WTF September 23, 2010 (3:41 pm)

    P.S.
    bsmomma, couldn’t have said it better myself.

  • seaveggirl September 23, 2010 (3:51 pm)

    I’m at 17th & Cambridge and assure you, we are in the city limits – but seriously, would they be less worthy if they were across the street on Roxbury? Choppers have been overhead for a few hours now. This is so sad.

    • WSB September 23, 2010 (4:39 pm)

      The choppers are TV, since there is no active search any longer. You can expect them probably through the top of the 6:30 pm news. As some have noted, this is national news, so the local affiliates will be dealing with feeding to their respective networks as well (and CNN, which deals with pretty much everyone) – TR

  • Teri September 23, 2010 (3:52 pm)

    Beyond sad. Positive thoughts going out to the family and survivors.

  • Ginger September 23, 2010 (3:52 pm)

    What are all the reports of someone’s house being ransacked?? What’s that about? Is it an adjacent home?

  • Jasperblu September 23, 2010 (3:59 pm)

    Very sad.

  • Sunshine September 23, 2010 (4:08 pm)

    Does anyone know what the ages of the late teen girls are?? I would like to know if I need to prepare my own teens….. such a sad situation all around. We will be lifting everyone in that house up in prayer.

  • Baba September 23, 2010 (4:59 pm)

    I wish that territory south of Fauntleroy and Alaska will secede from West Seattle and be called something else. There is just too much trouble over there…

  • polkadot September 23, 2010 (5:07 pm)

    o god

  • luckymom30 September 23, 2010 (5:17 pm)

    Roxhill Elementary was in lock-down, and we saw way more parents picking up their kids today then usual due to what happened on 14th SW.

  • charlabob September 23, 2010 (5:27 pm)

    Very sad — my sympathy goes out to the family and friends and to the Cambodian community.

    BTW, the police report of language barrier because the family speaks “Cambodian” would almost be funny if the situation itself wasn’t so tragic. Cambodians speak Khmer.

    This isn’t the time or place to ask why a mentally ill person had easy access to guns — but it is the time and place to remember the situation and ponder all of the causes.

  • WS Mom September 23, 2010 (5:38 pm)

    This is such a tragedy…my thoughts go out to the family…and may West Seattle get a reprieve from this violence.

  • MB September 23, 2010 (5:49 pm)

    Well put WS Mom.

  • JRR September 23, 2010 (5:59 pm)

    I’m mourning for my neighborhood and sad that these incidences are giving people the impression that particular areas are now “unsafe,” but mostly I’m grieving for the family. Such sudden, pointless, irretrievable loss. I hope they find peace.

  • christopherboffoli September 23, 2010 (6:03 pm)

    Khmer is indeed the official language of Cambodia. But the terms ‘Cambodian’ and ‘Khmer’ are often used interchangeably.

  • Alki Resident September 23, 2010 (6:41 pm)

    This whole situation is sad.I feel so sorry for the survivors who now have to bury so many at once.My heart broke when I saw on the news ,the little girl with the backpack walking to the crime scene,obviously coming from school to a horrific scene of her family now dead.How do you tell her what happened?

  • coffee September 23, 2010 (7:56 pm)

    Baba thank you for considering my neighborhood not part of your area. I say that not in a happy tone…..
    I like all ares of West Seattle, including White Center, which is technically not West Seattle, but blocks from my home.

  • A neighbor September 23, 2010 (8:09 pm)

    @Baba — something like this can happen in ANY neighborhood. Besides, I’ve heard of lots of crime in the Admiral/Northern WS area as well. It doesn’t matter WHERE you live. Your comment is completely unhelpful.

  • k September 23, 2010 (8:46 pm)

    @Baba– with that rude attitude I imagined that you were living on Mercer Island, or in Medina.

    So sorry for the family. Sending out love to them.

  • Oliver September 23, 2010 (8:46 pm)

    @Baba – Gatewood, Fauntleroy, Fauntlee Hills and Arbor Heights are all wonderful, mostly quiet west seattle communities south of your desired (red?) line. Should the Alki neighborhood to the north also be excluded from West Seattle due to shootings? What would be left? The Junction? Oh wait, there was a drive by there not that long ago. Violent crime can happen anywhere, but we fight it better as a community. No good comes of denigrating a huge portion of West Seattle.

    • WSB September 23, 2010 (9:02 pm)

      For context, the previous homicides in West Seattle happened:
      .
      Roxhill Park (yesterday)
      Fairmount Park area (early 2009)
      The Junction (early 2009)
      Highland Park (husband-wife murder suicide in May 2008, 2nd/Roxbury)
      Upper Alki (teenager who shot longtime alleged molester in car at 59th/Admiral in fall 2007 – he was found not guilty, self defense, so technically homicide, not murder)
      Morgan Junction (disabled man beaten to death by acquaintance at Cal-Mor Circle, 2007)
      Fairmount (37th/Findlay, man shot to death by acquaintance, 2007)
      Arbor Heights (man shot by would-be marijuana thief, December 2006)
      .
      And that’s pretty much where we came in to the West Seattle news scene.
      .
      TR

  • Leroniusmonkfish September 23, 2010 (8:48 pm)

    Rest in peace…sometimes there aren’t any answers.

  • nomad September 23, 2010 (8:51 pm)

    Just moved to this block last week to friendly, kind, diverse, real people. This is a human tragedy. People were suffering tremendous pain, one woman especially, right where we walk our dog, catch the bus, drive to work, walk to the store. Let us be mindful and kind to our neighbors, and sympathize with them in this time.

  • Baba September 23, 2010 (9:14 pm)

    Guys, I know some people that live on Delridge , Arbor Heights even White Center…I hate to sound like a prune, but they all say they live in west seattle!!! WTF???
    I view it as east and west LA!( on minature scale ). I’m scared to cross the Fauntleroy and Alaska southbound, whenever I have to…, there is a whole different world out there… seriously.

    • WSB September 23, 2010 (9:55 pm)

      West Seattle is everything from Elliott Bay on the north, to the Duwamish River on the east (except for Harbor Island, which is also part of WS, bounded by the east Duwamish waterway), to Puget Sound on the west, to the city limits on the south.

  • nomad September 23, 2010 (9:39 pm)

    The crime scene tape is down, and it looks like traffic is getting through now. Folks can move their cars in front of their own homes, if they wish.

  • B September 23, 2010 (9:43 pm)

    Baba, so does that mean that Lincoln Park is not West Seattle? What about half of the Junction because half of it is on the south side of Alaska?

  • Amanda September 23, 2010 (10:10 pm)

    No Baba, I am scared of your closed mind and narrow view of the world. You’ve picked one heck of a conversation to start in light of what has happened today. Your righteous attitude is completely destructive.

    I wish you nothing but growth and enlightenment.

  • EyeLiveInWS September 23, 2010 (10:10 pm)

    Isn’t it something how someone can actually take such a tragedy and in their twisted, sick, narcissistic minds – make it all about them?
    .
    Thanks, Baba. You are helping me become convinced that the culture in West Seattle is getting uglier.

  • PG September 23, 2010 (10:11 pm)

    Wow, Baba, 4 people are dead and all you can talk about is the boundary of West Seattle. I am so sorry to the family and friends of the victims. Such a sad and tragic event.

  • miws September 23, 2010 (10:14 pm)

    Baba, let’s put your secession idea up to a vote, I’ll start.

    .

    I vote that Baba secede from West Seattle, if he/she thinks it’s so bad here.

    .

    Mike

  • BB September 23, 2010 (10:14 pm)

    Good Lord…Seattle Times is reporting she killed her two granddaughters and son-in-law…words fail.

  • jedifarfy September 23, 2010 (10:21 pm)

    @Baba – Why so much hate? If you don’t like it here, move to Magnolia, Queen Anne, Freemont, etc. Four people were murdered for unknown reasons and all you can think about is what part of the city it happened. I’ve heard about just as much violence and problems north of your imaginary border. If you don’t like it further south, don’t bother coming over here.

    BTW I live in White Center. I have all my life and I’ll say that to anyone who ever asks. I’m not ashamed. No one should be.

    Today was a terrible tragedy that happened in our backyard and the best thing we can do right now is offer support in our own ways and hope that this helps others in the future.

  • ad September 23, 2010 (10:29 pm)

    I wish I could help the survivors somehow…
    This is very sad for ALL of West Seattle.

  • Brontosaurus September 23, 2010 (11:05 pm)

    @Baba, sorry you’re scared to come into my neighborhood south of Fauntleroy/Alaska. I can’t blame you. The people that hang out at West Seattle Thriftway and Zeke’s Pizza are so scary!

    It’s all the West Seattle area. We (that’s you and me) chose to live in a wonderful, diverse Seattle neighborhood. We need to celebrate the good things that WS has to offer and stick together and support eachother when things like this happen.

    I am thinking of that family tonight, and am so sorry for what has happened.

  • Leroniusmonkfish September 24, 2010 (2:27 am)

    It’s all wrong. There is absolutely nothing any law enforcement agency could do to prevent this tragedy.

    I’m so sorry for the family and everyone close to them. This shouldn’t have happened.

    To all the “Officers” doing what you do day after day Thank You!

  • Val Vashon September 24, 2010 (2:40 am)

    @Baba-

    Homicide wise, take a look at Tracy’s list above. Most are murder-suicides or people being shot by someone they know. The 2009 one in the Junction was a result of a bar fight moving out into the street, I believe. The Fairmount Park one escapes me right now, and common sense dictates not being in Roxhill Park after dark. De-gun your house, choose your friends wisely and invest in a little common sense, and you’ll stay generally safe as you move about in the world.

  • GenHillOne September 24, 2010 (6:41 am)

    Oh people, don’t feed the troll; that was obviously just a flame thrown out for reaction and he/she got it. Some people get their jollies in twisted ways.

    I’m so sorry for this family and further saddened by the girls’ ages. There are going to be a lot of young people hurting today with the news.

    • WSB September 24, 2010 (7:01 am)

      We haven’t confirmed this yet but KING reports the younger girl went to Denny, the older girl to Rainier Beach. We will have a new followup started by midmorning – TR

  • littlebrowndog September 24, 2010 (7:30 am)

    Many refugees and immigrants have experienced terrible, unimaginable trauma in their home countries. In Cambodia it was Pol Pot’s regime and the killing fields. It can have a profound life-long effect upon people. Today’s economic climate is leading to extreme cuts to such things as mental health services. I am sending my prayers to this family and their friends and to the Cambodian community.

  • Washington State for Gun Control September 24, 2010 (8:09 am)

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    Washington State for Gun Control

  • HolyKow September 24, 2010 (9:15 am)

    They only thing that remotely brings mental illness into this conversation is the emotional call that the survivor made to the 911 operator. In fact, that call states she has gone crazy, which is something that indicates, to me, that this was a sane person snapping and not a long term mentally ill person. There is not a shred of information to indicate that the shooter ever was actually adjudicated INSANE.

    More to follow, I am sure, but lets not start the whole gun control and how did a crazy lady get her hands on a gun when that is not legal.

    In order for that to hold any water, she would have to have been adjudicated as mentally unstable well prior to this incident. There is a big difference between a sane person snapping because of an argument or confrontation and shooting people and being actually mentally ill per the medical establishment.

    Sad times here over the last 48 hours.

    hk

  • ks September 24, 2010 (9:23 am)

    Has anyone started a fund for Thyda Harm? I can’t even begin to imagine how hard this is going to be for her.

  • gina September 24, 2010 (9:29 am)

    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012980349_shooting24m.html

    Names and photos of victims now posted on Seattle Times site.

  • AM September 24, 2010 (10:10 am)

    This woman was reported to be in and out of hospitals and known to be mentally ill. Very sad that she had a gun in the house and that she had access to it. I hope those of you who own guns will be very vigilant in locking them up if you have children or unstable people in the home.

  • MB September 24, 2010 (10:33 am)

    HK: The Times article does make it sound like there were prior mental health issues with the shooter. I’m not here to press the “how does a crazy lady get a gun” issue, just wanted to point out information that isn’t presented here.

    I don’t know any of the victims, but my heart hurts for them as well as our Denny family that is grieving.

  • SSM September 24, 2010 (11:12 am)

    Thank you, littlebrowndog, for saying exactly what I was thinking! Unspeakable things happen to people here and all around the world. We don’t know what they’ve endured. My heart is heavy for each one of the family members. My son attends Denny Middle School and my daughter is at Arbor Height Elementary…there will be much discussion about this in our family, I’m sure. Let’s keep up on this and post something if we hear about community support for survivors. Baba, you can help too even though I’m annoyed with you right now.

    • WSB September 24, 2010 (11:43 am)

      Regarding the victims’ schools: Seattle Public Schools has just told us that neither girl was enrolled in the district this year. There’s not much other official information available yet but we will post the start of a followup story in a bit, and will add the link here when it’s up – TR

  • Concerned Citizen September 24, 2010 (11:24 am)

    You would be surprised to hear what people think of West Seattle who live in Seattle proper, Mercer Island, Bellevue & etc…. They think it is trashy, no matter if its Gatewood, Admiral, or Alki neighborhoods.

  • Fabulousem September 24, 2010 (11:58 am)

    Concerned Citizen, I gave up caring what people in Mercer Island and Bellevue think about much of anything. And I’m sure they would be surprised to hear what I think about the areas you mentioned.

    Most of us here made a choice to live in beautiful West Seattle for it’s charm and friendly ease. I don’t just live here because I have to until I save up enough to move to Mercer Island.

  • nv310 September 24, 2010 (12:13 pm)

    This is one of my best friend’s family. I’ll be posting a memorial fund for them later today. Please keep them all in your prayers.

    • WSB September 24, 2010 (1:06 pm)

      NV310, thank you, we will publish any means of help that we get word of – TR

  • make a difference September 24, 2010 (12:16 pm)

    Hey WSB reporters, I’m curious as to the statements regarding this being “the second murder in West Seattle in two days, after none for more than a year and a half.” I recall not long ago (mid-May), there was a fatal shooting between 15th and 16th and Roxbury where the perpetrator was not caught. It was determined to be gang related. Was this particular case considered to be outside of Seattle city limits because the victim was killed on the southern divider of SW Roxbury? Regardless of city limits – this area (and greater Seattle as a whole) has seen more than enough sensless violence as of late. All communities need to start being more aware of our neighbors and the areas we all share. This starts with the simplest of things – meet your neighbors (you never know when you’ll need their help), respect the areas in which you live by picking up trash and litter, have pride in your community by making it a desireable and sharable space that people want to visit. We can all accomplish this goal by taking small steps each day. My thoughts go out to the survivors of this and other recent senselss acts of violence.

    • WSB September 24, 2010 (1:05 pm)

      Make A Difference, yes, that was in White Center, not West Seattle. We covered it on WCN and I believe at least mentioned it here too. But it’s a different jurisdiction, and that’s not a distinction we made – different law enforcement agency, different government, etc., so it wasn’t West Seattle, for whatever that’s worth.
      .
      Yes, small steps every day can make a big difference. We publish as many opportunities to help as we hear about … would love to see them all so crowded with participants that people maybe have to be turned away! – TR

  • Concerned Citizen September 24, 2010 (12:41 pm)

    “I don’t just live here because I have to until I save up enough to move to Mercer Island”…….I Do!

    Has anyone drove through North Admiral @ around 10pm and see the police presence at West Seattle finest bars! LOL…..Its not just South of Fauntleroy that has a trash factor…start at California and Admiral Way going north as well!

  • Changingtimes September 24, 2010 (12:47 pm)

    There is an account set up at BECU per kiro 7 website

  • datamuse September 24, 2010 (1:56 pm)

    Here’s information about the fund Changingtimes referred to.
    .
    I’ve lived in Highland Park for over a decade. I love it there, and if the rest of the city is so scared of it then I guess that means more Zippy’s Burgers for me.
    .
    I’ve only been to Cambodia as a tourist, but the evidence of what the country has suffered is unavoidable. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have survived something like that, or what effects it must have on your life.

  • Tony September 24, 2010 (10:57 pm)

    I’ve read every single response to this, and my words are, People..Be kind to each other, help if you can, lend a hand that is available, and give LOVE. This is life, this is not a dress rehearsal for anything, there is no boundaries, city limits and or county limits that life happens in…This is happening now. Smile and be kind to your neighbor. If your heart can lend you that. All of this is happening right now, be kind this only happens once.
    Tony

  • Val Vashon September 25, 2010 (8:48 am)

    makeadifference:

    It’s probably a good idea, but picking up trash and knowing your neighbors won’t do anything to stop homicidal gun violence between family members or so-called friends. Please pull your head out of the sand.

  • Michael September 25, 2010 (9:54 am)

    I was wanting to plan a community candle light vigil for the community in memory of the 4 people lost because of such violence and as a way for some of us to pull together and meet our neighbors and offer emotional support to each other.

  • Gres September 30, 2010 (12:37 pm)

    Thank you all for your kind words and compassion. The family is thankful and appreciative for all the support we’ve received from the community at large.

    Several fundraisers are in the works and will be announced fairly soon. You can find the information/updates via Facebook event “The Phan/Harm Fundraiser”.

    The family is in need of financial assistance for medical, funeral and other various expenses associated with the memorial services and ceremonies. If you are able and willing to contribute to the benevolent fund, please see the information below.

    “The Thy Luellen Benevolent Account”
    BECU Acct #: 3586082948


    Please include both Account Name & Number when making out a check.

    Deposits can be made at any BECU location with a deposit box, or by mail (address below). BECU members can deposit funds electronically by calling (800) 233-2328.


    BECU
    PO BOX 34044
    SEATTLE, WA 98124-1044


    At this point, any amount helps.

    “Fractures well cured make us more strong.”
    – Ralph Waldo Emerson

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