UPDATE: Helicopter, ground search after woman stabbed in White Center

8:11 PM: Thanks for the tips about Guardian One over White Center/South Delridge. We have a crew on the ground talking with deputies. So far, we’re told they are investigating an assault in WC. Will add other details when we get them.

8:28 PM: Just talked with KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. She says a woman who works for a veterinary clinic in the 9800 block of 15th SW was stabbed and they were looking for her attacker. She apparently was attacked when she went out behind the clinic after thinking she heard someone crying. The attacker is described only as white, female, “skinny,” and possibly a transient. No one in custody so far.

9:25 PM:
Sgt. West told us the victim was injured in the abdomen and arm but was in stable condition when taken to the hospital and is expected to fully recover.

21 Replies to "UPDATE: Helicopter, ground search after woman stabbed in White Center"

  • george February 13, 2018 (8:33 pm)

    I hope the woman who was stabbed will be ok.

  • Julie February 13, 2018 (9:29 pm)

    This is awful. We take our animals to this vet. Kathleen is a friend of ours and her staff is amazing!! 

    This is where concern and compassion get you these days? You hear crying and go to possibly offer help and get stabbed?? Outside your workplace no less??

    They better track this skinny *#*%# down and lock her up!!

  • West4Life February 13, 2018 (10:04 pm)

    Hmmmm, skinny transient? Possible they wanted to break into the clinic for drugs? Don’t junkies get high of animal medicine too?

    • Ms. Sparkles February 14, 2018 (3:43 pm)

      Yes.  Many of the meds for animals are the same as for humans (most of the benzoids).  That is exactly what Skinny McStabber was angling for.

  • 1994 February 13, 2018 (10:18 pm)

    So sorry this happened to someone at the Dr Paulson’s office – they are really wonderful people and help with our critters. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured person! And I agree with the comment above about finding this skinny dangerous person. Very sad for all.

  • Amy February 13, 2018 (10:23 pm)

    We also take our fur kids to this vet and love everyone in the office. I just called and talked to them today. This breaks my heart.

  • Curate February 13, 2018 (10:27 pm)

    Absolutely awful! I adore everyone at this vet clinic and have been there many times. Prayers for quick healing, both physical and emotional.

  • R. Jackson February 13, 2018 (11:08 pm)

    We too take our pets to Cascade. I just hope the staffer makes a quick recovery. So  unfair.  Great staff, great place. We are totally upset to hear this.

  • Jon February 14, 2018 (12:24 am)

    That’s awful. We were on that block an hour before that took place. White Center at night is a scary and unpoliced place. Every business was super busy tonight, too. I hope she’s caught before she ends up killing someone just out and about.

    I was ambushed behind my workplace in a similar fashion; luckily, the guy missed me and my coworker with his shiv. Absolutely terrifying — especially when you don’t even know someone is there (in our case, it was in our fenced-off trash and recycling enclosure; guy jumped out from behind the canister at 5:30AM and just started swinging and stabbing at us).

    To the victim: if you consider any self-defense options, at the very least, invest in a nice, durable high-lumen flashlight (130+) so that you can at least blind someone temporarily. Don’t cheap out (quality lights run by between $70-200). 

    Look at the OLight and Klarus products on Amazon for good rechargeable defensive lights. Always have it in your hand on your way to your car, the door at work, et cetera. It can absolutely save your life.

    Beyond that, skip the “tasers” and the pepper spray. If it’s an option for you, I’d recommend a concealed carry permit, some defensive classes, a nice holster (I prefer AlienGear) and maybe consider looking at a Glock 43, SIG P365 (if you can find one — just came out), M&P Shield 2.0, or a Ruger LC9S — all of which have SKUs with what are commonly called “night sights” (tritium vials which glow in the dark). All of the models I’ve mentioned are extremely small and marketed heavily towards women or people with small hands and low tensile grip strength.  Many ranges will also “rent” these models for you to try before you buy. A gun counter might recommend something else, but I’d look at those, primarily. Tell them what your use is and they’ll help you pick ammunition.

    If you go that route, don’t be intimidated by societal / regional disapproval and don’t feel as though you can’t ask questions. There are also lots of great and helpful YouTube channels out there for this sort of thing (PersonalDefenseNetwork is a good one).

    Good luck in your recovery. Here’s hoping the cuts weren’t deep. Stay safe.

    • Mike February 14, 2018 (7:06 am)

      Your concealed weapon would have been no use here.  People need to grasp the concept that most events where somebody is attacked is not preventable with a concealed weapon.  All you could do is kill the attacker AFTER they stabbed you in this situation.  Concealed weapons do not have preemptive attack voodoo future telling abilities.

      • Rusty February 14, 2018 (8:38 am)

        No voodoo, but it could definitely stop the stabbing from continuing, that’s pretty basic common sense.

        I hope the worker makes a swift and full recovery, and they find the attacker soon.

  • FAF February 14, 2018 (5:34 am)

    I am also so sorry to hear that this happened to a staff member at Cascade Heights.  I have just started taking some of our rescue cats to this clinic.  The staff is very kind and compassionate.  The care is top notch.  I was just in about two hours before this incident so it is a bit haunting to think one of the staff members would be attacked later.  It is very sad to think that it may be unsafe to help someone in crisis.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery.  Please let readers know if financial assistance will be needed for injured staff member during recovery.

  • Heidi M Suarez February 14, 2018 (8:57 am)

    We saw the police presence last night driving home and saddened it was an employee from our Vet’s office that was injured.  We LOVE Cascade Heights and are wishing the employee and speedy recovery complete with loads of hugs and loves.  Suarez Family

  • LB February 14, 2018 (9:44 am)

    Hope she recovers quickly and perp caught.  Sounds like a great clinic; too bad I’m in kirkland. 

  • Aaron Goss February 14, 2018 (11:32 am)

    If you care about White Center please attend the Coffee with a cop on Friday and demand foot patrols.  Cops really cannot see what is going on in dark corners when they drive around in their SUVs!

    http://whitecenterblog.com/2018/02/05/have-coffee-with-at-cop-at-white-center-starbucks-on-friday-feb-16/

      IV drugs are used in the dark corners on 14th.  We used to pick up needles often out back of the bike shop when it was over there.    Speak to the building owners and tenants about keeping their businesses clean and the landscaping trimmed and cleaned up.  Hung Long Asian Grocery for example does not maintain their building plantings and people use them as cover.

    • WSB February 14, 2018 (12:00 pm)

      The full Coffee with a Cop announcement as published on our site White Center Now last week:

      Want to talk with your King County Sheriff’s Office deputies about a crime/safety concern? Here’s your next chance – 9 am-11 am Friday, February 16, at White Center Starbucks! It’s “Coffee With A Cop,” just announced by KCSO. “No agendas or speeches – just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers in your neighborhood.”

      King County Sheriff’s Office deputies also are in attendance at every North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, and we routinely cover those, first Thursdays, 7 pm, NH Fire District HQ – 1243 SW 112th.

  • Kelly Nolan February 14, 2018 (4:21 pm)

    So sorry to hear it was a staff member at Cascade Heights Vet.  Dr. Kathleen and Dr. Nick along with Courtney, Sandy and the rest of the staff are wonderful!  Very scary and very sad!  Please be careful and I hope the employee makes a quick recovery.

  • Sincerely Loves White Center February 14, 2018 (7:29 pm)

    Thanks to Aaron Goss for the awesome Coffee with a Cop suggestion.  Our cops on the frontlines are doing their best with the folks who make bad choices and then cause the rest of us untold pain and expense.  I am sad to say I see a growing compassion fatigue that I’m afraid is justified.

  • HP Neighbor February 14, 2018 (9:07 pm)

    We love Cascade Vet and all the individuals who work there. Hoping for quick recovery…

  • Joan February 15, 2018 (12:00 pm)

    Seattle is shuttling the drug addicted transients to Burien, White Center. (Free rides via bus…see it all the time as I actually have to ride and pay.) Next they will set up their heroin dens here. Out of site out of mind. They ….WA govt…don’t care about outlying areas.

    Watch who you vote for. Burien City council has been infiltrated by union, big $$, and those who are doing the bidding for Seattle crap policies.

    Tourist season is coming and they want to clean up the city center. 

    • Mike February 17, 2018 (7:37 am)

      Joan, if you have proof of that you should make sure all the news outlets  have the details.  What you are seeing is what I see IN Seattle.  Homeless going to and from Downtown to West Seattle and back all the time, all day long on the bus, without paying on the C-Line.  I don’t think you’ve visited downtown much less SODO or Georgetown or South Park in a while, it’s hardly getting cleaned up.  I watched 3 dudes deal drugs on 3rd and Pike on Thursday, SPD was waiting at Pike to ticket cars turning onto 3rd.

Sorry, comment time is over.