Update: 1 person arrested after man shot in Morgan Junction

(UPDATED SUNDAY AFTERNOON – scroll down)

(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
9:59 PM: Police and fire are in the 4800 block of 35th SW after a report of a shooting. The scanner says the suspect vehicle MIGHT have been a blue BMW, license plate starting with 478, “last seen northbound on California.” Scanner traffic also indicates the victim is a 46-year-old man shot four times. Our crew will be at the scene shortly.

10:10 PM UPDATE: According to scanner traffic, the man was shot somewhere else and taken to Providence Mount St. Vincent, where police found him. CPR is under way.

10:18 PM UPDATE: Minutes before the victim turned up at The Mount, we had a report of gunshots heard in Morgan Junction – and indeed, police are reporting that’s where the shooting happened, in the 6400 block of California SW. According to SPD via Twitter, he “drove himself” to The Mount, which is not a public hospital but rather a nursing home/retirement facility. He has since been rushed to Harborview Medical Center.

10:37 PM UPDATE: The scene is apparently closer to Morgan Junction Park, according to a witness who told us a vehicle associated with the victim – which we also saw at The Mount – was parked by the construction equipment outside the park. Police are there investigating – we’ve added a photo above.

10:58 PM UPDATE: The photo immediately above this line is the truck in which the victim is reported to have arrived at Providence Mount St. Vincent. We’ve also substituted a clearer photo of the shooting scene by Morgan Junction Park.

2:10 AM: No updates from police so far. We’ll keep following up.

7:13 AM: According to Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams, one person was arrested overnight in connection with the incident. But he said further details would have to come from the SPD Media Relations team (which has not yet published its account of the incident).

7:34 AM: Police have JUST updated SPD Blotter. Here’s what they write:

On 1/21/12 at approximately 9:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to a shots fired call in the 6500 block of California Av SW. The call was updated with the suspect and the victim leaving northbound in separate cars.

Several witnesses were located and interviewed. The victim and his car were located in the 4800 block of 35 SW. The victim was shot 4 times in the chest.

Utilizing good investigative techniques, patrol officers were able to locate an address for the suspect. The Anti Crime Team & Gang Detectives responded to the suspect’s address. The suspect was arrested and the gun recovered. Homicide and CSI responded and processed the scene. As of 2:00 a.m., the 36-year-0ld male victim was still alive at an area hospital. His injuries are life threatening. The suspect, an adult male was booked into King County Jail for Investigation of Assault.

Police had gone to a Gatewood address in search of one person whose name they mentioned over the radio as a possible suspect. That name is not currently on the King County Jail Register, however.

3:32 PM UPDATE: Now it is. A 67-year-old Gatewood man is the suspect jailed in connection with last night’s shooting near Morgan Junction Park.

The status of the 35-year-old victim is not clear; a friend tells WSB his mother in Florida told them he did not survive, but authorities are so far not confirming (or denying) that, and Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Renee Witt told us, “I don’t anticipate any additional information being released today on this case.” The King County Jail Register lists the suspect as being held on suspicion of assault, not homicide, at this point.

One friend, Jamie, who says he was with the victim when he got shot and is the person who drove the victim to Providence Mount St. Vincent, thinking it was a hospital, has told us his story, by phone. (He has participated in the comment discussion, below.)

Caveat from your editor here: While there is no certain way to confirm that someone calling you by phone is who they say they are, saw what they said they saw – nor, frankly, is that sort of confirmation available if you talk to someone at a crime scene who says they are a witness – we will say that details Jamie mentioned include information that we heard police discuss by radio, but did not include in our published story. So here’s what he told us:

Jamie says the 36-year-old victim had lived with him and his family in West Seattle since arriving here from Jacksonville, Florida, four months ago. He says they had been friends for 17 years – and that he had urged his friend to move here to get away from the dangerous streets of Jacksonville. (According to data available online, its murder rate was the highest of any major Florida city until 2010, when 80 people were killed in Jacksonville, compared to 20 in slightly smaller Seattle.)

Here’s what Jamie says happened last night:

He and his friend had gone to the Feedback Lounge for drinks and each had two beers. They had not been there before, Jamie says.

They decided to leave; his pickup truck was parked near the construction equipment on California by Morgan Junction Park.

Outside, he says, they saw a man he believes was the shooter – who he says they had noticed earlier inside the bar. Jamie says his friend subsequently turned and went westward down the small street just north of the bar, instead of coming with him toward the truck, even though he called after him.

Jamie says that after he got back to the truck, his friend showed up, opened the pickup door while saying something to someone else, started to pull a shovel out of the pickup, and then, according to Jamie, that’s when the other man opened fire – and walked away.

“It was so random,” Jamie insists. His friend, according to police reports and radio traffic as it was all unfolding last night, was shot four times.

Jamie told us all he could think of was getting his friend medical attention, so he drove toward Providence Mount St. Vincent. “I didn’t know it wasn’t a hospital.”

He says he kept his friend conscious by talking to him as they drove there – and then when medics arrived, they pulled the victim out of the truck and onto the pavement, doing CPR.

Police talked to Jamie for a few hours, he says, and impounded his truck. (Which, we can say, would be standard procedure in a crime case.) When they took him home, he had to figure out how to get to Harborview, where his friend was in surgery.

He says the victim has a child back in Florida, and had just gotten a job here with a wholesaling company in SODO, looking forward to sending some money home for his child and his mom after recently receiving his first paycheck.

We will not identify the suspect until and unless he is charged; if this case proceeds along a standard path, it is likely that he will have a bail hearing tomorrow, and we will find out more during and after that hearing about what investigators believe happened. We haven’t found a criminal history in our online search so far; some court cases from a decade ago are all that have turned up.

121 Replies to "Update: 1 person arrested after man shot in Morgan Junction"

  • Morgan resident January 21, 2012 (10:10 pm)

    (Comment deleted due to inaccuracy)

  • Owlish January 21, 2012 (10:14 pm)

    What’s the BPP? Edit – Beveridge Place Pub, yikes.

  • JanS January 21, 2012 (10:16 pm)

    Beveridge Place Pub, in the MOrgan Junction. North on Calif.? Great…headed to my neighborhood…

  • SJ2 January 21, 2012 (10:17 pm)

    Holy !$*@! At BPP? Seriously?

  • Shannon January 21, 2012 (10:20 pm)

    OMG! I thought I heard what sounded like 3 shots at 9:40 tonight…but then didn’t hear any sirens or anything that would make me think they actually were gun shots. I can’t believe it at BPP! That’s scary.

  • kate January 21, 2012 (10:24 pm)

    While sitting next to the windows in the game room at BPP, the shooting took place in the park right next to BPP. Cops are on scene and processing it.

  • Morgan resident January 21, 2012 (10:33 pm)

    Suspect car is a Late 90’s M3 BMW blue in color. Supposed to live in WS.

  • Carrie January 21, 2012 (10:37 pm)

    It was next door to BP at the park… We are at BP

  • Kris Moser January 21, 2012 (10:39 pm)

    FYI – the shooting happened outside and nearby Beveridge Place Pub, NOT at the pub. There is no affiliation.

    • WSB January 21, 2012 (10:45 pm)

      As noted by Kris, please read the story. Witness told us the vehicle associated with the victim was seen by the park, reportedly right by the backhoe. Same vehicle then turned up where the victim turned up, at Providence Mt. St. V. We’ll have more info from police in the hours ahead. We have had a crew at both scenes associated with this, the park and The Mount (which is NOT a hospital BTW), and we have some preliminary info from police as well as what we have gathered at the scene … TR

  • Brian January 21, 2012 (10:44 pm)

    No way this happened at BPP. Maybe in the vicinity, but not at that bar. Not the place where that kind of thong happens.

  • Megan January 21, 2012 (10:46 pm)

    Holy cats! We were just at the Feedback and left around 8.30. Hope everyone is OK…

  • Stori January 21, 2012 (10:46 pm)

    hmmm…confused…we heard 3 shots at 31st and Elmgrove about 3 hrs ago…then a car screaching away…wonder if its related

    • WSB January 21, 2012 (10:49 pm)

      Someone reported that on our FB page and via e-mail a couple hours ago. Don’t know. Megan – there is NO indication of anyone hurt besides the 1 victim, whose condition we don’t know, but medic info via the scanner (there is a point at which the crew in the medic unit talks to the crew in the hospital to coordinate) suggested potentially life-threatening wounds. – TR

  • Gary January 21, 2012 (10:53 pm)

    @Morgan resident – please don’t slander local businesses with false information. Your comments are extremely irresponsible. The tragic shooting had nothing to do with Beveridge Place Pub, and as the owner, I’m very concerned about the reputation of my business. You obviously have no idea that it takes years to build a good reputation and seconds to loose it. Get your facts before you post. Thank you to those who clarified the situation. I hope the victim makes a full recovery. Gary.

  • SJ2 January 21, 2012 (11:00 pm)

    @Gary – Not Morgan resident, but just wanted to say I know the shooting did not take place at BPP, but even if it had I still would be a regular customer. You have very loyal customers, and always will.

  • Owlish January 21, 2012 (11:02 pm)

    Gary, slander? Really?
    Glad you are very concerned about your business’s reputation. I am very concerned about the victim and our neighborhood’s safety.

  • Owlish January 21, 2012 (11:06 pm)

    @stori did you call 911 when you heard shots, then a car screeching away?

  • DF January 21, 2012 (11:07 pm)

    a shooting occured between Beverage place and Fauntleroy outside the bars there back in the early to mid 90’s good friend of mine lost his life. Hope the guys ok.

  • Jacob January 21, 2012 (11:14 pm)

    Hope the victim makes it through OK.

    Morgan Junction Park really needs to be policed more. It seems to attract a seedy crowd from the low income housing across the street and the surrounding area. I constantly see some of the regulars there drinking openly and hanging out there after hours.

  • Stori January 21, 2012 (11:16 pm)

    nah, went outside walked around the block…didnt see anything out of the ordinary…

  • Cory January 21, 2012 (11:21 pm)

    I was with a friend who watched the shooting and identified the license plates. He saw the man shoot the victim 4 times then pointed at him and said that man just shot a guy. The shooter then reached for his gun and made a threatening gesture towards my buddy who promptly ducked for cover. Crazy night In the mean streetz of west seattle

  • Brody January 21, 2012 (11:27 pm)

    I live on 42nd nearer to Graham than Morgan. At about 9:40, I heard exactly 3 pistol shots in quick succession, and promptly called 911 to report it. I did not hear any car screeching away, but I was indoors at the time I heard the shots. I am also trained as an EMT, and understand the raido codes and medical terminology, and from what I heard on my scanner, the victim does not sound like he is in good shape at all. I feel that we should be thinking of the victim and ways we may be able to keep things like this from happening in our neigborhood, and not bickering about what has been posted. I’d also like to thank the SPD for the quick response time and professional conduct.

    (In case you are wondering; “As an EMT, why didn’t you go help?” I had only a vague direction of where the shots came from, I didn’t know if the scene was safe [first rule of EMS], and more people at the scene wouldn’t help get police/EMS there any faster.)

  • Morgan resident January 21, 2012 (11:29 pm)

    The Police said “This is going to be at the Beverage Place”. I didn’t make it up. It’s what I heard. I go to your pub. Anybody who has been to your pub knows this kind of thing does not happen there. Refer to the other posts of shock.

    Relax, we all know the truth. Maybe Tracy can take it down.

    • WSB January 21, 2012 (11:36 pm)

      Yeah, I’m deleting comment #1. This is a particularly muddled situation because of the multiple scenes involved – but again to recap:
      -Victim shot by Morgan Junction Park
      -Victim turns up at Providence Mount St. Vincent
      -Medic crews take him from there to Harborview
      (Brody, it doesn’t sound like the victim was there long enough for anybody to help in M-Junction, given the time between shots reported & victim appearing elsewhere)
      .
      I don’t have condition info beyond the fact CPR was under way when medic crew and trauma doc at Harborview talked by radio as the unit was leaving. Police have promised an update via SPD Blotter at some point but since homicide detectives are just arriving in WS to join the investigation, I don’t expect that any time soon. – TR

  • April January 21, 2012 (11:33 pm)

    New to the Morgan Junction & I still have every intention to become a frequent visitor of BPP. I do believe people need to get their facts straight prior to posting info like that. Thank you Gary for letting us all know that it did not occur at the Pub.

    -and not all the housing across the street from the park is low income. If it is then I don’t know how low income afford the rent I just started paying. However, thanks for the warning about the park & I will make sure to avoid it late at night.

  • Chuck & Sally's Van Man January 21, 2012 (11:33 pm)

    @Jacob: Amen! Open drinking there 24/7–I’ve never seen a cop so much as stop to check on things. Ridiculous, given this is a “family” park. @Gary: have one of your tasty beers and chill. Your “reputation” will be better if you do. Just sayin’…

  • Brody January 21, 2012 (11:45 pm)

    @WSB: Thank you for the info. It wasn’t exactly an easy choice to not go out and try to help.

  • Gary January 21, 2012 (11:56 pm)

    @Morgan resident – thanks for the clarification, my apologies for being a little defensive. It’s somewhat tense here for the folks who know what happened. I didn’t realize that the police initially made the mistake on location (although it has happened before). There were some people coming to/from the pub who witnessed the incident, so hopefully justice will be served, and the victim will be alright.

  • Cindertang January 22, 2012 (1:00 am)

    Hope he survives the shooting. I have lived here for 54 years and its starting to get a bit scary around here.Don’t get me wrong there is no place I would rather live than right here. Peace and love to him and his family and friends.

  • jamie January 22, 2012 (2:05 am)

    I was with the victim when the shooting happened and we came from FEEDBACK and it was mine and my friends 1st time in and I saw the shooter inside of feedback and I am quite sure his plan was to rob us and my friend tried to get him away with a shovel and thats when he pulled his gun and shot my friend in cold blood I was in fear for my life as well so I drove my friend to get medical attention and get the hell away from this lunatic OMG I hope he is okay the hospital will not give me any info or allow me in it really did not look very good for my friend everyone please remember him in your prayers

  • Will January 22, 2012 (4:38 am)

    I heard the shots on cal ave and Raymond. I was hoping it was fireworks :-( this is way to close to home.

  • hp-resident January 22, 2012 (4:55 am)

    Not sure if this is related but we were awakened by 2, maybe 3 gunshots. The last of which I could see the flash but no shooter. This was at 405a at approximately 30th and Raymond. Seen a few patrol cars circling, but nothing other than that.

  • Kgdlg January 22, 2012 (6:18 am)

    My thoughts are with the victim here. Let’s refrain from placing blame on anyone, especially “low income” housing residents across the street. Now is not the time for broad assumptions about people. THis was a serious crime and until we have more info, we should refrain from judgement, just as Gary pointed out. The round building is a HUD subsidized building that is mostly for the disabled and seniors.

  • CD January 22, 2012 (7:04 am)

    Sorry but if you read the comments on FB a girl that knew the vitim has posted that he has passed. She names the victim and his age and that he had recently moved here from Florida. Also says that he is the 3rd of three sons to be buried!!! How sad! Our community is suffering! Sorry to hear about this and to the family and friends who knew my prayers are with you.

    • WSB January 22, 2012 (7:26 am)

      CD – I saw that comment but want to note here that we have no official confirmation of that yet. Police have not even published a basic SPD Blotter entry on this case, though as I have added to the story, the SW Precinct lt. on duty at the time did confirm overnight that there was one arrest, which we thought we had heard on the scanner but did not report until we had confirmation. We don’t know the identity of that person, nor whether they are in jail at this point – IF it is true that the victim has died, there is no one on the register right now for investigation of homicide. Hopefully we’ll have more information as the morning goes along. – TR

  • Sv January 22, 2012 (7:09 am)

    Thank you Kgdlg

  • Jennifer January 22, 2012 (7:18 am)

    Yikes! Jamie, that’s terrifying! I’m so sorry for your experience. Please let us know if your friend is okay and if there’s anything we can do to help.

  • TDe January 22, 2012 (7:27 am)

    I agree with not implying anything about the residents who live across the street from the park. I interact with a lot of those folks every week and they are generally wonderful people. Two of them helped push a friend of mine out of an icy parking lot just night before last and I’ve never seen any of them driving BMWs… Let’s get some facts here before indicting anyone who lives in the area.

    • WSB January 22, 2012 (7:32 am)

      … and literally within the past minute, SPD Blotter has updated. Adding to the story. They do NOT report the victim having died, at least not as of 2 am.

  • CD January 22, 2012 (7:32 am)

    I completly understand thats why I didn’t bother reposting his name or bday figured you would be fact checking bf posting anyhow!!

    You guys are the best..!

  • mary January 22, 2012 (7:55 am)

    It doesn’t sound like it’s related but there were three loud bangs at 4am last night in the high point neighborhood. After two of them, I looked out the window and saw a car driving down 29th ave authors with the flashers on. It stopped, a guy walking down the street got in, and a minute or so later, there was another pop with a flash of light (I assumed gunshot but the car was out of sight at that point). I did call 911 and saw police cruising the area but heard nothing else. This is usually a very quiet area, so I’m really curious about what was happening.

    • WSB January 22, 2012 (8:06 am)

      Mary – almost always these cases turn out to be fireworks. Time and time again, it’s reported as shots, police respond, they find someone who saw somebody setting off fireworks. Happened here in my neighborhood a month or so ago. Unfortunately, though, there is the 1 in 100 case like last night, when it was a shooting. There’s also the occasional case of gunfire with no one getting hit (like an Alki home on New Year’s Eve) – those are hard to confirm unless police find shell casings. I haven’t heard anything about what you mention, but can at least said no one *else* was shot anywhere last night, in WS or elsewhere. – TR

  • Ace20604 January 22, 2012 (8:00 am)

    May peace be with all of those who have been afected

    If you choose to confront a violent criminal then you might take your CWP, Training, and finally your Pistol with the unpredictable aggressive nature of offenders to day…good people need not to be afraid when we all band together.

  • HPCommuter January 22, 2012 (8:13 am)

    I was woken up around 4am by two men outside my window discussing setting off fireworks. Sure enough less than a minute later there was a huge flash of light and a bang. In all they set off 3 ( around my house at least) and then drove away. It was so close to my house I could hear the sizzle of the fuse. They drove a beige sedan.
    I live in high point.

  • Lauren in Gatewood January 22, 2012 (8:33 am)

    @WSB re the Gatewood address, can you be more specific? Cross streets?

    • WSB January 22, 2012 (9:21 am)

      Lauren – not until and unless there’s some confirmation that really was the arrest scene. We drove by and police were indeed outside the house that had been discussed via the scanner but it could turn out that its relation to the case was something else entirely – since I’m still not seeing the discussed name (which did cross reference to the house) on the jail register. Whomever is in jail will certainly have a bail hearing tomorrow, after which usually the prosecuting attorney’s office is able to release some probable-cause documentation, and we’ll know more (including alleged motive/circumstances, none of which are hinted at in the SPD Blotter item). And meantime, the Medical Examiner would not confirm the alleged death, so I’m still holding back on that till there is official confirmation … TR

  • Morgan resident January 22, 2012 (8:51 am)

    If you dont know what a gunshot sounds like and you think you hear one. Call. New years and 4th of July are the only time I hear fireworks regularly. Filter out the obvious things like that, then call. Reporting it moves units into the area in case there is a victim and a fleeing suspect.

  • Lauren in Gatewood January 22, 2012 (8:53 am)

    Just read the Facebook thread. RIP. So sorry for the victim’s friends and family. How horrible that his mother has lost three sons.

  • WTF January 22, 2012 (8:58 am)

    1) BPP has too many loyal customers who would empower in numbers to preserve the reputation of the business. Don’t worry Gary, we love your place as much as you love our business.
    2) I’m NOT going to wish the “victim” well, of this so called tragedy, until I know he was truly an innocent in the whole thing. Highly unlikely, but I’ll wait….
    The tragedy that really exists is the fact that this $%#+ is taking place where we live and play. Where our children live and play. This/these pieces of garbage need to crawl back into the hole they crawled out of and NEVER come back. If anything, you people should be pissed this happened and contine to voice your outrage, or it will become easier and easier to deteriorate what so many of us good people have built here. Focus on the real problem: escalating violence.
    Maybe WSB could start an annual violent incident page starting from Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 and I bet you would be very surprised at just how much this type of thing takes place in our idealic WS. Maybe then you wouldn’t focus so much on trivial details and focus on the real real problem.
    Excellent & dedicated reporting WSB!

  • SJ2 January 22, 2012 (9:30 am)

    I also heard the three loud bangs around 4AM last night. Did not sound like any fireworks I have ever heard.

  • lipbone January 22, 2012 (10:34 am)

    HP resident here. I too awoke to the sound of a bang. I ignored it and tried to go back to sleep. not to long after that I heard another and decided to get up and check it out. I waited for a while, nothing happened, went back to bed. Moments later another bang with what may have been a flash of light. These were not rapid-fire shots.

    Not long after at least 3 police cars showed up and went down the big 30th ave hill towards Brandon. All parked near the top of that street. There were other neighbors up and about, obviously concerned about the noise.

    The earlier real shooting explains the large response. If it hadn’t been for the number of police I wouldn’t have worried about it much longer. But nothing showed up on the blotter, nothing on realtime-911.

    Glad to know it really was fireworks and not related to the tragedy that actually happened.

  • a January 22, 2012 (11:27 am)

    Sadly that park is a place we no longer go to. It opened near the time that Zeeks Pizza opened and our family named it Pizza Park! Our son was 3 at the time and loved running around over there. Now there are usually unsavory people there. That and the fact that it should now be named Dog Poop Park we no longer go there.

  • jamie January 22, 2012 (11:28 am)

    I was hoping I could wake-up and it was a bad dream but it is real my friend Micheal Travis Hood may he rest in peace I got confirmation from his mother he passed at 4:30am I hope the shooter rots in hell for taking my friends life. This is the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed in my life

  • Skeeter January 22, 2012 (11:30 am)

    Another HP resident here – 29th and Raymond. I called 911 at 4am as well. These may not have been gunshots, but they were NOT just firecrackers. They were M80s or something really powerful. I seriously thought it was a gunshot because it was so loud and I saw the flash through the window. Despite what people think about HP, this is normally a very, very quiet area. It was really scary to hear what I thought to be gunshots right outside the house just after reading about the Morgan event.

    To anyone with fireworks – it is EXTREMELY irresponsible to set off fireworks at 4AM in a heavily populated area. If you must set off fireworks (yeah, I was a kid once too,) go out in the woods at least a mile from houses and people. And only do it on a soggy day so you don’t start a fire.

  • k January 22, 2012 (11:36 am)

    Thanks Tracy for holding info back until it is confirmed.
    Too many “news outlets” don’t do that.
    CBS Sports– I’m talking about you!

  • Scubafrog January 22, 2012 (11:41 am)

    Until WSB reports that there was a fatality, I will keep praying and hoping that the victim is ok, and that he will be alright. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victim, his friends and family.

    How does one shoot someone 4 times, and only get arrested for suspicion of assault? That’s attempted murder. Now I might not be familiar with prosecutorial conduct, but does this sound extraordinarily ‘soft’ on the perpetrator?

    • WSB January 22, 2012 (12:14 pm)

      I have just spoken with Jamie (victim’s friend) on the phone, extensively. He called, saying he wanted to tell his story rather than just sit here and answer comments. Police have told me they are not expecting to release any additional information today. Some of the details in what Jamie said check with what we heard on the scanner as the investigation proceeded last night – details that were not in our story – and so, with a caveat, I am going to write about our conversation shortly, in a separate story. Since authorities are refusing at this point to confirm the victim’s status, all I can do is attribute, attribute, attribute. Once that’s written, I’ll post the URL here … TR

  • Jamie (junction) January 22, 2012 (11:43 am)

    @Jamie (commented above), I am SO sorry to hear about what happened to you and your friend. I can’t imagine how terrifying that must have been. It sounds like you saw the guy in the Feedback earlier? Would you be able to identify him if the police bring you in as a witness? It sounds like a horrible act of random violence, which is always the scariest kind. I have to wonder if the perp is the same guy who hit another man over the head with a bottle, splitting his head open, at the feedback a couple of months ago. Allegedly he was mad becuase his girlfriend was flirting with the guy he hit with the bottle. It’s this kind of illogical anger that causes people to do crazy things like shoot random strangers in parks. I hope the victim survives and the perp goes away for life.

  • Jamie (junction) January 22, 2012 (11:46 am)

    By the way, I will continue to frequent both the Feedback Lounge and the Beveridge Place Pub. I refuse to let one crazy a-hole ruin my fun or prevent me from supporting the businesses that I love. I suggest we all do the same, because otherwise the crazy a-holes win.

  • HP January 22, 2012 (11:56 am)

    I am in HP and heard the bangs, saw the last 2 flash. They sounded to loud to be gun shots. It could be very well that these were related to the Chinese New Year celebration.

  • Kiwi January 22, 2012 (12:00 pm)

    Long time morgan junction resident and Bev regular. I was at the pub all night, it was a chill and laid back scene as always. this sort of violence is very very rare in our neighborhood. it’s thanks to the community at large, and resources like this blog that help us keep our community together. let’s pressure the authorities to help maintain order here and hold each other accountable as well. enjoying and supporting our local establishments at the Morgan junction is essential to combat the negativity related to this kind of news.

  • neighbor January 22, 2012 (12:03 pm)

    There’s lots of complaints lately about how bad things are in WS. I’m not hearing any ideas about making things better. If the park is full of dog poop then let’s get a group together and clean it up. With the economy the way it is we cant wait for someone else to fix it for us. We have to take the responsibility. Think of that next time u vote for no new taxes.

  • jamie January 22, 2012 (12:21 pm)

    I would love to have a camera when the shooter finds out that he is now being held on the charge of murder instead of suspicion of assault. Hopefully justice will be served

    • WSB January 22, 2012 (12:36 pm)

      The person whose name I was watching for on the jail log HAS finally shown up there, but the notation remains “investigation of assault.” – TR

  • jamie January 22, 2012 (12:53 pm)

    I am amazed after my statement to the police that the original charge was assault instead of attempted murder because the officer that took my statement even told me it should rank as attempted murder my friend is gone so please pray for justice to be served on this monster I also am surprised that I have not been contacted by Seattle Police as of yet I might add

    • WSB January 22, 2012 (12:56 pm)

      Keep in mind that no actual *charge* is filed until prosecutors file one. Suspects are held in jail “on suspicion of …” but the resulting charge may be different (or not). Usually charging decisions in cases like this are made within a few days, because if no charge is filed within three days (depending on when the person is arrested, the countdown clock runs a little differently), they can’t be kept in custody.

  • a January 22, 2012 (1:21 pm)

    @ Neighbor – why should I clean up someone else’s dogs poop? There’s a reason I don’t have a dog. If you want a dog then be responsible and clean up after it. In the meantime no visits to that park for our family.

  • Bohica January 22, 2012 (2:22 pm)

    Densitysucks dot com

  • DW January 22, 2012 (2:58 pm)

    I agree with “a” — I was really excited when the new park opened up until it got taken over by the scuzballs who live at the circular apartments across the street. Never any attempt to remove them either.

  • Karen January 22, 2012 (3:27 pm)

    Glad I live in White Center–you people bring kind of mean to each other in these postings–when our community has a tragedy we stick together

    • WSB January 22, 2012 (3:42 pm)

      Update – I have added the summary of my conversation with Jamie to this story, rather than starting a new one. It’s added above after the notation: 3:32 PM UPDATE. Once again, please do not use names in the comments, whether of the suspect or victim – while we know the suspect’s name, it is our policy to not identify suspects (with the occasional exception) until they are charged; charges don’t necessarily mean they are guilty, but they mean authorities believe they have enough evidence to prove they likely have the right person/s, after not only police evidence-gathering but also prosecutorial review and decisionmaking. And while we have no reason to believe the name we have heard as that of the victim is incorrect, we also do not usually identify victims until that information comes from authorities, who are accountable for verifying identities and notifying relatives. Thanks – TR

  • April January 22, 2012 (3:53 pm)

    If people are so put off by these “people” in the park & nothing being done about it, have you actually gone to neighborhood meetings, the city council, anything? If no one speaks up about these things, no one knows there is a problem. The more everyone avoids this park, the more of a problem it will become as they will know that no one else is going to visit and they will continue to do whatever they want there.

    You can’t sit back & expect someone else to speak up about our public spaces while you continue to sit back and complain about them.

    Get involved @ http://www.morganjunction.org/

    • WSB January 22, 2012 (4:13 pm)

      And in fact, MoCA’s quarterly meeting is happening THIS Wednesday (7 pm January 25, The Kenney), delayed a week because of the snow. Great place to go if you are concerned, I will take the liberty of saying I’m pretty sure this will come up, and I would be surprised if they aren’t in the process of booking a police rep to come brief them about it. What the police will tell you is: If you see someone doing something illegal, call it in. Or suspicious. Standing or sitting around in a park is not necessarily either of the above, but there are park rules, for example, against alcohol use (unless there is an event with a permit), so if you see somebody drinking, they’re breaking the law.

  • JN January 22, 2012 (4:00 pm)

    As Sherlock Holmes said, “The lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside”. In the city, neighbors take heed of the signs of danger or struggle and raise the alarm, and the cogs of justice are put into motion quickly, while any number of atrocities can and do take place unnoticed in the quiet and solitude of the country.

  • Shane January 22, 2012 (4:07 pm)

    Penalty for attempted murder and first degree assault are the same in Washington and the elements of first degree assault are easier to prove. Thats why the arrest is suspicion of assault. If the victim dies then it is no longer “attempted” murder and , of course, that changes everything.
    *edited to correct my horrible typing*

  • Tbone January 22, 2012 (4:27 pm)

    This just makes no sense. Was this random? Why the shovel? Why walk west on the small side street, an odd detour if you’re going to your vehicle? Why didn’t the friend follow on the side street detour? Why drive away when emergency crews could have been there in minutes and are equipped to handle trauma, unlike showing up at a place you think is a hospital… I’m not meaning any disrespect to anyone; no one deserves this. Just seems like there’s some really odd details here…

  • JimmyG January 22, 2012 (4:51 pm)

    Two weeks ago I watched 5 men and one woman sitting on the benches drinking beer on the park benches. Broad daylight, not hiding what they were doing, laughing and chugging.
    I called 911 to report it.
    I then watched as one of them walked to the Short Stop store right next door and bought at least two more cans of beer which he brought out to the group.
    I then watched two of these men cross California and enter the Seattle Housing Authority apartments. The remaining group continued to drink.
    Sadly I couldn’t wait for SPD to arrive, and I’m guessing that at most, SPD gave them a warning.
    Every time you see someone drinking at the park, call 911. If you don’t call it in, the cops don’t know it’s happening.

    As to this shooting, it seems the park has nothing to do with it.
    Why did Jaimes friend walk down the street and not come directly to the car? Obviously there is a lot more to this story than what we know or have a right to know at this time.
    I for one will let SPD and the prosecutors do their job and investigate this fully so that proper charges can be filed if they are called for.
    Justice doesn’t happen like it does on Law & Order or CSI. Give it a few weeks or months, they’ll get it right.
    Rushed investigations don’t equal justice.

  • jodie davis January 22, 2012 (5:02 pm)

    TRAVIS HOOD ……we a lost a son a brother and a father….this is a horrible tragidy on our family…travis u will be truly missed..but we all k.ow your in a better place …with your brothers and best friend….WE LOVE U TRAVIS..R.I.P

  • CJ January 22, 2012 (6:21 pm)

    Here here Neighbor and April. Instead of complaining about the condition of the park, do something. Yes, absolutely the poop is someone else’s responsibility but do you just want to be right or do you want your park back?

  • DF January 22, 2012 (6:28 pm)

    Go to SPU adopt a drain and fall cleanup and sign up and follow thru by volunteering your own hours. I received from them a real nice trash grabber, florecent vest, trash and leaf debri yellow plastic bags and work gloves. I use the trash grabber occasionally on walks ,most of the time without just bend over, and have used the bags to mostly go after muck left behind by fallen leaves.
    Maybe you folks who live in the Morgan Junction area could benefit by using these tools SPU provides for free. Go demand they give you the high end trash grabber and go use them and pick up trash where this horrible act occurred and the drinking and drug use take place.

  • NotMe January 22, 2012 (7:17 pm)

    It’s seems a pretty crappy that people want to complain NOW about dog poop in a park. Also, if you don’t want to help pick it up so you and your kids can play in the park, then don’t complain… not here on a story about some poor soul that gets shot 4 times. Unbelievable.

  • west seattlite January 22, 2012 (7:21 pm)

    1. All people living in low income housing DO NOT negatively affect their surroundings. Many less so than those living in high income areas who believe that those with little $ cause most of the worlds problems. 2. I have dogs. I clean up their poop. I clean up other peoples dogs poop, in my yard and in public spaces. It doesn’t thrill me to clean up after others. But those people, that don’t clean up after themselves/ their pets/ their children, will always exist. Rather than sit back and complain, I choose to make a little of my world cleaner. I may not smile about it at the time but I know that I’m doing what I can to make things better, which ultimately does make me smile. Happy poop scooping!

  • why January 22, 2012 (7:41 pm)

    If the man was trying to defend himself why did he shoot him 4 times why not once but instead he shot him four times in the chest.
    sounds like he was trying to kill him

  • Kgdlg January 22, 2012 (7:52 pm)

    Again want to remind people that the circle building houses largely seniors and disabled. Apparently the guy arrested lives up in gatewood, maybe he is even a homeowner?!!!!! Violence cannot be distilled down to one group and it is sad to see that happening here when someone’s life is on the line. My prayers are with the victim.

  • Bohica January 22, 2012 (8:14 pm)

    When something bad happens in WS, the first thing people say is that the bad economy is to blame .. If that is the case, we must have had a bad economy for the last several decades.

  • hh January 22, 2012 (8:57 pm)

    Our hearts go out to the man who was shot; we wish him a speedy recovery.
    On a separate note, we heard what sounded like a gunshot in our area (high point) around 4:30 am. Anyone hear that? My husband said he heard an additional one. Hopefully fireworks? Anyone?

    • WSB January 22, 2012 (9:02 pm)

      See earlier in this comment thread.

  • ripper January 22, 2012 (9:53 pm)

    I heard the bangs in HP too, but I think they were fireworks. Didn’t sound like a gun.

  • joe January 22, 2012 (10:02 pm)

    Let’s all reserve judgement. There is obviously more to this than any of us know except for Jamie. Many in this neighborhood know the accused, and many of them know better than to believe he may have been attempting to “rob” anybody. At that time of night, in that location, with that many people around, this story shouldn’t be too hard for the detectives to piece together. May justice prevail for all involved.

  • Alex January 22, 2012 (10:50 pm)

    One encouraging thing about these types of stories is that the perp usually gets caught. It’s a happy coincidence that the type of person who goes around shooting at people will also generally be the type that’s too stupid to elude capture by the police. Most shooters aren’t criminal masterminds, they’re drunks.

  • MB January 22, 2012 (11:08 pm)

    Prayers out to this man and his family. I agree with some of the above comments. This isnt the place to complain about dog poop. Deal with it elsewhere and show some respect to the man. I’m sure you’d be a little upset to know that this is how people were remembering you or wishing for your recovery. There are much bigger issues around here than whose dog poop belongs to who. Peace to the family and I pray this person is locked away for a long time. Too much bad in west seattle lately. Very sad!

  • ripper January 22, 2012 (11:20 pm)

    So the guy just starts randomly shooting? This guy’s version of events sounds mighty fishy. Gotta be more to the story…

  • S5 January 23, 2012 (12:01 am)

    I am sad about this type of violence happening in West Seattle, near a place I like to frequent. However, I am reserving judgement about the victim and the shooter until we get more details from authorities. Something just doesn’t sound right.

  • west seattle gal January 23, 2012 (12:27 am)

    The increasing level of voilent crime in WS is disturbing.

  • jamie January 23, 2012 (12:27 am)

    Joe you must not realize this person you are talking about cold blooded murdered my friend maybe he wasn’t robbing but he was damn sure way to close for comfort and my friend did not swing the shovel at him he picked it up to keep the guy back away from him the guy was 18-24 inches from him when he grabbed the shovel and why would a random stranger come at someone trying to get in his vehicle and I guess it is okay for your kind of friends to walk the streets of west seattle illegally carrying a firearm and killing people and then acting like my dying friend was the shooter and threatening other people with his firearm Joe all I can say until you have endured what I saw and watch the life leave my friend because of this monster that all of the so called neighborhood folks are doubting his guilt should really take the blinders off and realize this guy you thought you all knew is a cold blooded killer

  • Ms mookies January 23, 2012 (6:36 am)

    Assault for shooting someone 4 times? Very sad and unnerving when a tragedy occurs so close to home. Whether it happened in the park or at a business next door, the impact remains the same. I’m embarrassed by some of the comments assuming this violent act was committed by someone of low socioeconomic status.

  • j-ville January 23, 2012 (6:36 am)

    i knew the victim and i hope the man that did this to him pays. RIP.

  • brin January 23, 2012 (7:54 am)

    While this is certainly a tragedy and apparently resulted in the death of the victim, I would like to point out that murder recently dropped off the list of the top 15 causes of death in the US. Violent crime and almost all other crime is actually down across the board.

    The reality is that we simply hear more about it now from sources like this blog, which is not a criticism, they provide a great service. But just because we now hear more about the crimes that are committed doesn’t mean the end is near, or that crime is increasing dramatically. Quite the opposite is true.

    • WSB January 23, 2012 (8:06 am)

      Suicide is the true homicide epidemic, and we do point that out from time to time. In 2010, as released by King County a couple months ago, there were almost four times as many suicides as homicides in the county – 253 to 59. http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/news/2011/11121901.aspx Doesn’t make this case (which by the way we HOPE to clear up the victim’s status officially within the hour) any less newsworthy, but FYI since “Brin” brings it up. – TR

      • WSB January 23, 2012 (9:34 am)

        UPDATE: Authorities finally confirm this morning that the victim did not survive. https://westseattleblog.com/?p=98793

        • WSB January 23, 2012 (9:46 am)

          Also, whether posting in this thread or the new one, please note that our rules prohibit profanity and personal attacks, and comments that include one or both will be deleted. We also will not be publishing the suspect’s name in any form until and unless he is charged by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which is not likely today (tomorrow will most likely be their deadline). If anyone has another side of the story to tell, hopefully you already have spoken with police, but we also will be continuing to cover this through the justice system and are always reachable a variety of ways: https://westseattleblog.com/contact – thank you, TR

  • HelperMonkey January 23, 2012 (9:41 am)

    Am I the only one who thinks the victim’s friend’s story is a little off? Sorry for the victim, but something about the way this story is being told does not add up. JMHO.

  • Alkidoc January 23, 2012 (11:31 am)

    Omg I was at the feedback that night. We left at 10 never heard any shots. Cops had just got there i think because we noticed police activity in the “park.”. My husband also noticed an older man being loud and rude at the bar. Could be the same guy? I don’t recall him, was facing the other way.
    Scary!

  • Derp January 23, 2012 (11:40 am)

    @Jamie – You say the man was illegally carrying a firearm. Do you say this out of ignorance of state gun laws, or did the police specifically tell you the suspect was somehow in possession illegally? If he had the gun on him in the bar, that would’ve been illegal regardless of a permit to carry concealed. However, I’m not familiar with the Feedback Lounge, so if they have a sit-down restaurant portion, the serving of alcohol doesn’t necessarily prevent one from legally carrying. Further, if the gun were in his vehicle instead of his person until immediately prior to the shooting, that’s likely legal possession as well.

  • Joe January 23, 2012 (11:43 am)

    I never doubted his guilt, I also never assumed it, that is for the courts to figure out. I also never said the accused was my friend. He is well known in the neighborhood, and not the type to do this sort of thing by all accounts from people I know and trust that also know him. I am truly sorry for your loss, but I will never think it a good idea to essentially try and convict a guy in a comment thread on a blog. The initial police work wasn’t that difficult because he was arrested in quick fashion, in large part due to witness accounts. Those same witness accounts will hopefully bring all of the facts to light and justice will be served at the end of the day. A terrible turn of events for our community, and for you, Jamie. Please don’t misunderstand me here.

    • WSB January 23, 2012 (12:41 pm)

      FYI to a couple recent comments:
      .
      1. Despite the name, this is not a “blog.” If you’re new, long story. It’s not a good idea to try to convict or exonerate anyone in a discussion on ANY news publication’s website (which is what this IS), but on the other hand, the only people who get the final say – if a case even goes to trial – are judge and jury.
      .
      2. Regarding the firearm issue: The jail register mentions that the suspect is being held for investigation of unlawful firearm possession, as well as assault (and in the hour since we’ve been out of the house temporary, the “investigation of homicide” notation has been added as well). Yet again, within a few hours we should know what investigators say they’ve discovered. They also have more access to information on whether the suspect has any kind of record – which is one potential ground for “unlawful possession” – detailed online records only go a few years back.
      .
      We’ll be in court for the bail hearing and will publish information as soon as we’re able to (the jail courtrooms are stricter about Internet use than the county courthouse across the street) … TR

  • SAD January 23, 2012 (1:23 pm)

    I feel very bad for the family of the deceased. We have lived next to the suspect for many years, he has always been a wonderful neighbor and this is such a shock to all of us. He is so kind, and gentle – we are at a loss as what transpired to cause this tragedy. Our prayers are with everyone involved.

  • eyewitness January 23, 2012 (8:39 pm)

    I just would like to say that I watched the shooter pull the trigger. I was standing outside beverage place smoking. The shooter drew smoothly and fired four shots inside the passenger door of a Ford ranger. He then turned walked towards me then got into his blue BMW which was parked in right in front of beverage place. I signaled some friends to come and help identify the suspect. He sat calmly in his car and preceded to use his phone. He was a black male between late 40 to early 50. The ford ranger then randomly started and took off north bound on California, that’s when the BMW started and took off up the road soon to follow. My friends then called the cops while me and some other guy ran to the crime scene and investigated. We found blood on the road and shell cases from a 45. The police showed up about ten minutes later. The officer on scene did not have proper training…we gave complete and accurate details about the both cars make model the license number of the shooters car and what he looked like…what they did with it…hhhmmm. the second car on scene attempted to drive through the crime scene… I will be amazed if the shooter is actually prosecuted! I’m sorry if the victim didn’t make it. But I really question the robbery story. Why did he take the time to shoot one man but not the driver? He did not run away he walked calmly to his car, sat in it and made a phone call! Not only that he saw me why didn’t he just open fire? I question what his motive was.

  • Pollo January 24, 2012 (3:12 am)

    Most of your comments sicken me. I am ashamed to be a WS resident when, after a man is dead, many of you turn this is into a completely uneducated rant about low income housing (which a few have pointed out the silliness of) and, of all things, dog poop. You actually turned a mans death into a discussion of dog poop. Hey WS blog, I love you guys so much, you do so much good, but maybe there is a way to not have comments shared on stories of magnitude? Sure, its great on random coyote sightings or a swim in the sound, but this comment section is just….disgusting in so many ways. Clearly a vocal minority of posters are just…destructive.

  • joseph e. michael jr. January 24, 2012 (10:54 am)

    I heard the shots and thought it was fireworks so I thought nothing of it. But I noticed homeless people standing there all day and thinking to myself something’s bound to happen.

  • KM January 24, 2012 (11:13 am)

    I’ve known the person accused of the shooting for over 10 years and it’s a complete shock. He’s never seemed violent, he’s a family man, well known in the community and has a great group of friends. I would also like to say he’s not low income, the park next to the BPP had nothing to do with this nor the low income housing across the street. You would never think he would do something like this. We are just so sad for the victim & his family.

  • Pollo January 24, 2012 (11:18 am)

    Joseph, you read the part where it said the suspect, who has now basically confessed if I’m reading this right, was a Gatewood homeowner?

    • WSB January 24, 2012 (11:37 am)

      Guys. Asking questions is one thing but we will step in, in terms of fact-checking. Pollo, NO, there is no word of any “confession.”

  • Pollo January 24, 2012 (12:14 pm)

    Right, I was referring to the part of the story where he said that was his gun, and it was probably in the car that night from the SPD release… “When interviewed by homicide detectives he admitted after Miranda that the gun was his and it was in his car at the time of the shooting and that the casings recovered at the scene would most likely match his gun.” Confession was the wrong choice of words, I intended the “basically” modifier to qualify that, but you are right, I should have just put that quote up specifically.

  • Pollo January 24, 2012 (12:15 pm)

    I am, indeed unfamiliar with specific legal terms and will avoid them in the future.

  • Disgusted January 24, 2012 (1:14 pm)

    A person is dead. I don’t understand people who assume he was somehow at fault (whatever that means), let alone those who say they will only feel sad for the victim if they learn he was not at fault.

    This is prejudice, pure and simple. I bet the folks who feel this way would not think it was the victim’s fault if the victim had been a middle class white female in her late 40s (like me).

    Cynics, couldn’t you at least start with a general presumption that a shooting victim is not “at fault” for his/her own death until you learn at least a few facts to the contrary?

  • Disgusted January 24, 2012 (1:17 pm)

    A person is dead. I don’t understand people who assume he was somehow at fault (whatever that means), let alone those who say they will only feel sad for the victim if they learn he was not at fault.

    This is prejudice, pure and simple. I bet the folks who feel this way would not think it was the victim’s fault if the victim had been a middle class white female in her late 50s (like me).

    Cynics, couldn’t you at least start with a general presumption that a shooting victim is not “at fault” for his/her own death until you learn at least a few facts to the contrary?

  • KM January 24, 2012 (2:41 pm)

    I’m not sure what you mean by prejudice “disgusted”. The suspect is african american.

  • truth January 24, 2012 (6:12 pm)

    @ KM…Your “neighbor” is a convicted, multiple…yes thats multiple ARMED robber… please stop saying, what he seemed like and all that, it makes me sick..what he is…is a criminal, point blank!!!

  • sam January 24, 2012 (7:23 pm)

    I start with the assumption that either man could be at fault.
    There are too many things about this that dont make sense.
    Why did the dead man go to get a shovel from his truck instead of just getting in the truck and going home?
    This could be self defense it could be murder of an innocent man we just dont know yet.
    If the dead man was going to hit the shooter with a shovel the shooter had every right to shoot him. It would be self defense.
    The shooter should not have left the scene. And the shooters past and the dead mans past dont matter. All that matters is what happened that night.
    No matter how the truth plays out, I feel sad for both people and their families.

Sorry, comment time is over.