Update: Investigation at Jack Block Park

WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli is on the scene and we’re working to get more information. They’re keeping media way back – this apparently happened deep inside the park – but a public information officer is said to be on the way. 2:42 PM UPDATE: We are now told this – like the incident last night at Westwood Village is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It’s important to note in these cases – suicide claims more lives than homicide each year – but is little-discussed publicly. If you or anyone you know has considered it, you can get help around the clock through the Crisis Clinic, 206.461.3222.

beachdrivegirl October 23, 2009 (2:56 pm)

Back to back suicides. That is just awful.

WSB October 23, 2009 (3:08 pm)

They happen almost every day. But these two happened to be in public places and drew large police and fire responses – which is why they were “breaking news” here for a time since we report in real-time – but as I noted, it’s so important that people realize suicide is an epidemic, more deadly than the murders we all worry so much about (of which Seattle has very few, fortunately), and it is important to pay attention to and to offer help … TR

Steph October 23, 2009 (3:41 pm)

Thank you WSB for covering this. I don’t get this info from the news because they don’t like reporting suicides which only makes it worse. Thanks again for the news even though it is very sad.

WSB October 23, 2009 (3:47 pm)

It does make it worse. And separate from the issue that suicide needs to be talked about, and solutions need to be found – the most achingly clear description of suicide I have ever heard is “a deadly symptom of mental illness” – also, people have the right to know what all the sirens were about, and with so many people checking the 911 log, “what was the assault with weapons, was there a shooting?” But at some point, even if it had been a case of someone being shot by someone else, if it had been minor, you might not see it on a citywide news source. That’s why we are here, and try as hard as we can to get the info out – we are “the news” too (as are our fellow community-collaborative online news services like http://myballard.com and http://capitolhillseattle.com ), just in a new format – TR

Steph October 23, 2009 (4:16 pm)

If you get anymore info, please keep us up to date. I know it’s morbid but I like to know who took their own life. It helps me to say a prayer for them and pray for my father who took his own life six years ago. Thanks again.

MargL October 23, 2009 (4:17 pm)

I think there’s still the weird stigma of “if we talk about suicide in the news it will happen more often” i.e. people who are depressed will get ideas about how to kill themselves and that talking about depression is a bad thing… The only time we really see it covered is if it inconveniences a large number of people, like having to close a bridge because someone is threatening to jump.
Yes, thanks for getting the info out, even if it is sad news.

WSB October 23, 2009 (4:27 pm)

Steph, that’s an interesting point. Currently I don’t do a followup (aside from saying, the victim was an xx-year-old man/woman), unless, say, a family member has come forward and wanted to tell the story. If you look back at a few of the stories we’ve published in the past few years, friends and family members have found them and self-disclosed something about the victim.
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I have wrestled with the concept of whether not publishing the names represents just a different way of continuing the stigma, but for now, this is where we’ve stood. The one that continues to haunt me is the woman who jumped from the bridge some months back. The Medical Examiner issues a daily list of King County deaths, including the cause of death, the name, the age, and from the injuries, it is easy to tell in a case like that which person on the list it was. With that info, I learned more about her background as a peace activist – discussed at the time in the comment thread below the story – I forwarded a request through one of the commenters, saying that if her family ever wanted to tell her story, we would be interested, but I never heard back, and I get that.
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I have mentioned this many times, but the best-ever coverage of the suicide epidemic here in town, along with a heartbreaking personal story of a victim, is Philip Dawdy’s Seattle Weekly story “One Suicide Too Many” from 2004:
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2004-01-14/news/one-suicide-too-many/
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He now writes/publishes a website about mental-health issues, Furious Seasons:
http://www.furiousseasons.com/
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TR

AlkiRagdoll October 23, 2009 (5:55 pm)

I am sorry for the cause leading to these pix,as mental health issues are very difficult. I need to comment on just how clear/crisp these pix are. Christopher – I know that you are very talented from all of your current and past posts. Can you offer any suggestions to am amature on how to achieve the same??

christopherboffoli October 23, 2009 (7:44 pm)

AlkiRagdoll: Thanks. These images, like many of the others I’ve shot for the WSB (and also HD videos like the salmon video posted this morning) were produced with Canon 5D Mark II digital SLR cameras and Canon’s “L” series of lenses. These cameras shoot 21.1 megapixel images in very high resolution and are especially adept in low-light situations. But the 5DM2 is probably impractical for most amateur photographers.
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While it is always my priority to produce clear, beautiful images that illustrate what was happening when news was being made, it is just as important that the images aren’t too big so that they load quickly for all readers. They must also fit the format of the WSB page. For that reason the pictures you normally see are usually crunched down, losing quite a bit of resolution and contrast in the process. The images from the incident at Jack Block Park today were posted in a higher resolution because a lot was happening this afternoon and news was breaking quickly. So they look a bit brighter and crisper than usual.
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The good news is that you don’t need a big, expensive camera to get good results. Skillful photographers can produce stunning images with a pinhole camera made out of a shoebox. The best advice I can give you is to take the time to read your camera’s manual thoroughly so you understand its functions and controls. Shoot in good light, use a tripod or steady the camera with both hands. If you can exercise some manual control over the camera, stick to shutter speeds faster than 1/30 of a second and set your aperture in the f11-16 range for maximum depth of field. Many consumer-level cameras have pre-set modes for portraits, landscapes, sports, etc. which set the optimal shutter and aperture for you. Use those modes and they will do the work for you. Again, by carefully studying the functions of your camera you will be empowered to get the most out of it.
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Lastly, it is all about practice. Thomas Edison made many thousands of attempts to perfect the filament in the incandescent lightbulb. After each filament burned up he didn’t view it as a failure but another step closer to succeeding (a particularly American outlook). For every stunning image a professional photographer makes there must be many thousands more in their past that didn’t work. At least that’s how it was for me. Keep shooting and you’re bound to be successful in capturing images you are proud of.
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And if something newsworthy is happening in your neighborhood, and you get a good shot of it, don’t forget to send it to editor@westseattleblog.com :-)

homedk October 24, 2009 (1:15 am)

TR, thanks for reposting the “One Suicide Too Many” link; I hadn’t seen it before. I used to listen to & enjoy her show; didn’t know what had happened to her.

It has only been via word of mouth that I’ve learned of the suicides of people that I’ve known. None of them were reported in the media. Each time, I hadn’t seen it coming. I attended my 10th high school reunion & learned that a friend had killed himself just a few weeks before. I learned via mutual friends that a former colleague had killed himself, not long after becoming a father. In both cases, these were smart & seemingly well-adjusted people, not loners, not “losers”.

As a child, I recall my parents talking about one of their friends committing suicide in a garage; there was also another incident where a cousin drove his car off the road into a lake, which may or may not have been accidental.

Seems to me that the problem of suicide has continued from generation to generation, despite attempts to keep it out of the spotlight…