Update: Burien shooting suspect sought in West Seattle

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(video added 9:48 am, shot about an hour and a half earlier in Pigeon Point/Puget Ridge)
ORIGINAL REPORT: Thanks to those who have e-mailed/texted about major police activity in the South Seattle Community College vicinity, mostly around 16th SW – we’re checking to see what it’s about, both by phone and in person. Will post when we find something out; let us know if you know anything. 8:27 AM UPDATE: We’ve seen King County Sheriff’s Office personnel involved in this as well as Seattle Police so we have inquired with both departments; KCSO’s Sgt. John Urquhart says “we’re looking for a suspect who ran off on us” but can’t elaborate on exactly what the suspect is wanted for – he says they’d received a tip the suspect lived in West Seattle, then about 7 this morning the suspect “took off” — Seattle Police are helping with the search. More information as we get it. 9:01 AM UPDATE: Scanner information (and one text message) suggests the search is also moving into other parts of east West Seattle – just letting you know in case you see the officers. 9:53 AM UPDATE: A description was just put out over the scanner: Black male, 28 years old, thin, no facial hair, black jacket/blue jeans but “possibly changed clothes to unknown T-shirt and boxer shorts.” Call 911 with any info. 10:09 AM UPDATE: Sgt. Urquhart just confirmed, the man they are looking for was being sought in connection with last night’s double shooting in Burien (here’s tv coverage). They now believe he may have escaped the area. If any photo or further description is made available later today, we will post it in a separate report.

gavmit September 5, 2008 (8:32 am)

where on 16th SW is this happening?

gavmit September 5, 2008 (8:33 am)

sorry I see above – thanks

Bogie September 5, 2008 (8:46 am)

They were also all over 18th Ave and up on 19th Ave at the north end, near Dawson around 7:20 this morning. Just saw them standing near their cars though, not doing much searching.

gavmit September 5, 2008 (8:53 am)

we live on 16th near the north end (dead man’s curve) and my husband tells me he sees a sheriff’s car outside and a guy in military type gear (m16 on back) searching around the homes around us…

banjo September 5, 2008 (8:56 am)

I live on 17th and there are a ton of cop cars, and policemen in camoflauge standing out on the street. Not sure what’s going on, but hasn’t interferred with garbage day :P

Alcina September 5, 2008 (9:04 am)

Wonder if this could be related to the shooting in Burien last night at 122nd & Ambaum
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattle911/archives/147970.asp
News reports say the suspect was not apprehended at the scene.

Amber September 5, 2008 (9:08 am)

We live near that curve as well…There’s a couple of sheriff’s in camo jumpsuits, at least 6-10 cop cars throughout the neighborhood, what looks like a SWAT unit in a blacked out tank like truck (straight out of the movies) and we were told that they were waiting for the dog unit and that we should either go to work or stay inside (that was around 7:30-8:00).

Brandon September 5, 2008 (9:14 am)

So at what point does a discription go out? I would assume based on the severity of the crime, so if none is given, there is not a xx% degree of threat?

WSB September 5, 2008 (9:18 am)

Alcina, we asked that specific question since that occurred to us as well, having heard about that incident last night; the sergeant said it’s “too soon” to say what the suspect is/was/might have been involved with. Brandon – a description goes out basically when law enforcers believe they need public help – we have not heard one on the scanner so far, but we don’t have all the frequencies (plus they have other ways of sharing information that are not publicly monitorable).

GPSM September 5, 2008 (9:57 am)

In broadcast emails from the SSCC security office to the SSCC campus, it is referred to as the “shooting suspect”. One would suspect that information was given from the police to campus security personnel.

WSB September 5, 2008 (9:58 am)

Thank you. I am checking back with KCSO in a moment as the information I just posted about a description also implied a crime but I want to confirm before posting partial – the description was clear, for starters.

WSB September 5, 2008 (10:13 am)

Just posted above: Sgt. Urquhart now confirms, the man is wanted in connection with the Burien shootings. We told him to please let us know if a photo or further description is made available later, as we will be happy to post that posthaste.

Brandon September 5, 2008 (11:25 am)

Thanks. A description would be for defensive purposes, not hunting purposes. if a gunman is out on the loose after shooting 2 people, i might want to know who to avoid if i came in contact.

gavmit September 5, 2008 (12:12 pm)

seems to be quite a bit of excitement the last couple of day’s @ the north end of 16th – just on Tuesday there was a police chase and the guy crashed a white mercedes into the guardrail heading down the hill – scary thing was we came out of our house to see what had happened and the guy was trying to hide in the bushes and we pointed him out quietly to the cops and they did catch him. probably a good idea to not have overgrown bush/trees around your home…

Amber September 5, 2008 (12:26 pm)

Gavmit- Do you know if things have settled down in the neighborhood…have the cops cleared out of the area or is the search still on? Thanks!

gavmit September 5, 2008 (12:34 pm)

Amber – it is quiet – my husband is home during the day and he is not seeing anymore police cars/activity – he has kept our house locked up tight though and hasn’t gone outside – just to be careful, but it seems the excitement has gone

charles September 5, 2008 (1:37 pm)

been seeing more cop cars down 24 ave s.w. not sure what is going on. some times just setting. glad to have them

Ray September 5, 2008 (5:19 pm)

I spoke with a Seattle Police officer up on 16th around 4:30 pm this afternoon and he said the suspect is still at large. Apparently he lives somewhere on 17th near Dawson – of course, the officer wouldn’t give me the exact address. He said to expect to see SPD and King County Sherriff cars around the neighborhood until they find him. Be safe!

Mike September 6, 2008 (11:27 am)

I’m just glad the suspect did not end up on the SSCC campus. While it is true that there were not a whole lot of people on campus because classes are out, it is also true their security people are not armed either. I would hate to think what would have happened if this guy had ended up in one of the offices or someplace else with a lot of people around and nothing to lose by hurting someone. After all he has already shot and seriously wounded 2 people, what was to stop him from killing someone on that campus who got in his way while trying to escape?

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