FOLLOWUP: Bail set at $500,000 for suspect arrested in Westwood murder, described as victim’s ex-girlfriend

(WSB photo from Tuesday night)

We have just found out more about what police believe preceded the shooting that killed a West Seattle man outside his home near 31st SW and SW Elmgrove on Tuesday night. The information is in probable-cause documents from this afternoon’s court appearance of the 21-year-old Burien woman arrested the next morning, whose bail has been set at half a million dollars.

The documents say the suspect is an ex-girlfriend of the victim, who is identified in those documents as 25-year-old Edixon Velasquez. Police say she messaged him Monday saying she urgently wanted to meet with him at his home. Then on Tuesday, she messaged him to say she was outside his home but did not want to come in, asking him instead to come outside. He was having dinner inside with his two roommates; they saw her car go by and wondered why she didn’t want to come in. The victim eventually went out, saying he would help his ex-girlfriend park her car, and moments later the roommates heard at least one gunshot, and saw the ex-girlfriend getting into her car.

The documents say that surveillance video obtained from a neighbor shows that Velasquez got into the driver’s seat of the car (after “a female” exited that seat), and then a man walked up to the car from the north, appearing to open the driver’s door and pull Velasquez out, with the victim then falling to the ground. That man was said to then run away, while the ex-girlfriend walked up, looked down at the victim, making “no attempt to help him” according to police, before getting into the car and driving away. When police found her at her mother’s house in Burien the next day, the documents say, she “denied knowing the identity of the shooter and the motive for the shooting, but admitted that she did nothing to help the victim after the shooting and that she left the scene and never called 911.” As reported Tuesday night, Velasquez died at the scene. Documents from today’s hearing do not describe the man except to say that he was wearing “a hooded sweatshirt and long pants.” He is still not in custody so far as we know; the female suspect, meantime, is due back in court tomorrow, at which time we should find out whether she will be charged.

25 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Bail set at $500,000 for suspect arrested in Westwood murder, described as victim's ex-girlfriend"

  • Bo September 21, 2017 (3:48 pm)

    Let her rot in prison for 80 years.

  • JoB September 21, 2017 (3:56 pm)

    i for one do not breathe a sigh of relief as many will hearing that this was maybe just another domestic dispute… there are too many people with guns and no self control out and about these days.

  • Just Wondering September 21, 2017 (4:40 pm)

    So she lured him and then watched someone else shoot him?

    • WSB September 21, 2017 (4:57 pm)

      That would be how the narrative reads in the probable-cause documents. If she is charged tomorrow, there may be additional narrative. The exact verbiage in today’s document, when it describes what police say they saw on the video, is (transcribed – the document was sent in a non-cut-and-pasteable format):

      “Velasquez can be seen walking from his residence to the driver’s side of the black sedan. The driver’s door opens and a female gets out. She walks across the street, appearing to take cover behind a parked vehicle. Velasquez gets into the driver’s seat of the black sedan and it appears as though he is attempting to park the vehicle. A male in a hooded sweatshirt and long pants can then be seen walking, from the north, up to the driver’s door of the black sedan. The male appears to open the driver’s door and pull Velasquez out of the car. Velasquez falls to the ground and the male makes movements/gestures with his arm/hands towards Velasquez. Velasquez does not get up after this, and the male runs away on foot (northbound). The female then appears to calmly walk back over to Velasquez, look at him down on the ground, make no attempt to help him, but instead enter the driver’s door of the black sedan and drive it away southbound.”

  • JanS September 21, 2017 (5:13 pm)

    sounds like she’s a real piece of work

  • Concerned September 21, 2017 (5:17 pm)

    So she gets out of the car and then takes cover behind another parked car. Sounds like she’s involved in 1st degree murder.  The footage from the neighbor’s house is going to be invaluable in prosecuting her involvement in this.  

  • What a coward September 21, 2017 (5:21 pm)

    What ever happened to people talking, arguing, maybe even throwing punches at one another? Seriously, she had someone MURDER her ex boyfriend? May she serve time in prison for being a worthless human who obviously isn’t contributing to our society in any positive way. And run home to mom after you witness a murder. Disgusting. 

    • Old guy September 21, 2017 (5:34 pm)

      Yes, my thoughts too. Where does one learn to shoot somebody to resolve a dispute. What god awful people. I hope they never see the light of day again. 

  • JoB September 21, 2017 (5:43 pm)

    this makes me incredibly sad.. for all of us..

  • Thom September 21, 2017 (5:54 pm)

    My heart goes out to his family and friends. No one should be lured to a violent death, especially in such a seemingly cold and dispassionate way. 

    That said, there is justice in the world. Based on what little information is currently available, it seems to hit all the boxes for a prosecutorial checklist on how to establish premeditated murder. 

    • Called ahead to have him meet her at his home ‘urgently’ – Check. 
    • Was seen to circle the block more than once  – Check. 
    • Called again to have him come outside to park her car – Check.
    • Exited the car and walks over to ‘take cover’ behind another car before the shooter appears  – Check. 
    • Witnesses the shooting – Check
    • Calmly returns to the car– Check 
    • Looks down at him, takes no action to assist or call for help – Check
    • Calmly drives away– Check. 
      Admits to witnessing the shooting, not offering assistance, leaving, & not calling 911 later. – Check.
    • It was all captured on video– Priceless. 

    I don’t want the seeming incompetence of the murderous plan to, in any way, diminish the seriousness of the horrific ordeal suffered by this young man and his family & friends. I do, in every way, wish it enhances the speed and severity with which justice is served to those who carried it out. 

    • Lee September 21, 2017 (10:31 pm)

      Thom,

      There’s actually no difference between premeditated and first degree murder.  

      • WSB September 21, 2017 (10:37 pm)

        The statute:

        https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.32.030

      • sad September 22, 2017 (11:12 am)

        I’ve been through a murder trial, the text message she sent, moments before murder will help with premeditation charge. That is if the family can endure years of trial delays which my in turn lead to a plea bargain. So sad for everyone. 

  • JoB September 21, 2017 (6:59 pm)

    in this case. a neighbors surveillance camera was a very good thing

    • Lee September 21, 2017 (9:41 pm)

      Unfortunately, a surveillance camera which does not record sound nor know how to read minds cannot prove that she actually had anything to do with the individual that shot Velasquez.   At this point, the story being sold is pure speculation as to how it all went down.  And while it may be exactly how it went, and I would love to see justice for this poor soul, it is not that simple.  The best thing that could happen here is that the police find the shooter and offer him a plea bargain to speak about what REALLY happened and why.  RIP fellow West Seattleite.    

      • Swede. September 21, 2017 (11:15 pm)

        Since it was from the actual police report I would argue that it’s not ‘pure speculation’. They watched it and made a conclusion from years of experience. Why would she appear to take cover? Scared of cars being parked? Or maybe knew shots would be fired and didn’t want to risk being hit…

  • Chris September 21, 2017 (9:12 pm)

    Why has the arrested not been named??

    • WSB September 21, 2017 (9:23 pm)

      She is not yet charged.

  • Alki Resident September 21, 2017 (9:13 pm)

    Go to Facebook and look up Anna Kasparova. Her sister has made a story which is out of this world. On a side note, Anna is a mom, and it’s a damn shame how self absorbed she is. I hope she gets life for this heinous crime.

  • Neighbors unite September 21, 2017 (9:33 pm)

    If you live within a 2 block radius of this crime and have a surveillance system than captures the sidewalk and street outside your home, you may want to contact the SPD homicide unit.  It may just capture the shooter in some fashion (maybe without his hood up, maybe being dropped off by the ex-girlfriend, etc.).  One of our neighbors has already tremendously helped the police with his/her video, maybe there are others out there.

  • AntF September 22, 2017 (9:50 am)

    West Seattle please pray for all families involved. A quick search of social media leads to the info that these two people have a small child together who now likely will have neither parent raising him. So many people are affected and hurt by crimes like this. So sad. 

    • Lee September 22, 2017 (10:54 am)

      According to the social media I saw, they do not have a child in common – that being said however, I did read that each has their own child.  So very sad for both children.  :(

    • Alki Resident September 22, 2017 (1:57 pm)

      It’s not his baby.

  • Washingtonian September 22, 2017 (4:05 pm)

    She is officially being charged with 1st degree murder and her bail has doubled to $1 million. Surveillance also shows her driving by the house 2x and easily parking in a large space then pulling out of it and waiting for him to come out and ‘help’ park. As someone also mentioned, if anyone else has a camera up, please send it to the detectives, even if you don’t think it can help.

    Thank you for the support of Edixon and his family. I knew him and he was an exceptional person who brought light everywhere he went. There is also a gofundme account to raise money to get him back to Honduras to his family. https://www.gofundme.com/whe8v-eddies-memorial-fund

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