66 Replies to "Update: Police search after two men stabbed in North Admiral"

• JanS July 16, 2011 (11:38 pm)

  right across from Hamilton Viewpoint…and some people think crime doesn’t happen in this neighborhood :(

• mike July 16, 2011 (11:40 pm)

  Was wondering what all the activity was about. Yikes!

• Silver July 16, 2011 (11:42 pm)

  Damn, you guys are fast! I was just going to send you email!

  Two males, both stabbed in the back. Both alert and conscious. Scene is now secure.

• Silver July 16, 2011 (11:49 pm)

  Both men are being transported to Harboview. Patient #1, the 30 year old, has a blood pressure of 60 over palp (not too good, I understand.) Patient #2 sounds like he is “doing okay.”

  • WSB July 17, 2011 (12:02 am)

    Thanks, Silver, that’s the impression I got too. We have two people on the scene but as you know the medical info never comes from the scene, only from the radio exchanges between medics and Harborview. They *just* left (M-32 and M-10).

• lil_gal July 16, 2011 (11:52 pm)

  I don’t think there have been anywhere near the amount of crimes in this area compared to… well, any other area of West Seattle. While the sirens blazed passed my house, I thought it would be Alki – the usual hotspot.

• JanS July 17, 2011 (12:08 am)

  hey, mike..great pictures :)

• homesick July 17, 2011 (12:09 am)

  isn’t the viewpoint suppose to close at 11pm?
  that needs to start being strictly enforced.
  all of us in the neighborhood need to keep our eyes and ears open.

• Al July 17, 2011 (12:16 am)

  Been wondering what the ruckus was all about. I just got back from walking my dog and must have walked by there 30 min before. Crazy. I noticed that park has seen a recent increase in popularity in the evenings (especially of youth drinking on the hillside out of the view of the street). Gladly, I don’t think it is the locals that are the problems on the weekends, but it is still problematic. I had moved away from the beach long ago to avoid this kind of thing.

  One question: does this mean we are going to have to give up the “one of the most desired neighborhoods to live in-in Seattle” award now?

• Mary T July 17, 2011 (12:22 am)

  This is just horrifying.

• villagegreen July 17, 2011 (12:23 am)

  I’ve been out at the bars, so you can take this with a grain of salt, but the stupidity of men never ceases to amaze me. Just dumb.

• sparkybo July 17, 2011 (12:44 am)

  Just a thought, the victims are males, says nothing so far about the suspects if male or female. And btw, I’m female. Just sayin. Either gender, agreed, still dumb.

• Jiggers July 17, 2011 (2:09 am)

  Summertime is grand! Nothing good happens after midnight eh?

• Justice July 17, 2011 (5:48 am)

  Is the ethnicity of the group mentioned because it is in some way relevant? Is noting that they are HISPANIC supposed to help us identify the perpetrators? Seems slightly vague, as descriptions go. (If we see a Hispanic person in North Admiral — not likely — should we suspect them of this crime?)
  Hmmm, makes me think that just MAYBE the person who wrote this was white (the “normal” ethnicity that rarely gets mentioned).

  • WSB July 17, 2011 (8:17 am)

    Justice, we’ve been over that here time and again. Whatever police mention in terms of descriptions, how much or how little, we will mention. As of early this am, that is all they had. If all they had was “a group of people dressed in purple,” that’s what we’d mention. – TR

• austin July 17, 2011 (8:20 am)

  It seems like a person would have to be pretty loaded to not notice a thing like having been stabbed.

• w.s. maverick July 17, 2011 (8:23 am)

  whats up with west seattle lately? white center is trickling down in the good parts

• homesick July 17, 2011 (8:35 am)

  we can’t begin to search for the person or people who committed this crime without a description. if that includes ethnicity as a way of helping capturing the perpetrators, then it must be included, no matter if it’s white, red, hispanic, asian or martian.
  it’s just the facts of the situation. no one should take it as a slam.
  justice, if this happened in your neighborhood, wouldn’t you want as much information as possible to keep it safe?
  hmmm, makes me think that just MAYBE you are hispanic. so sorry you have taken offense.

• amused July 17, 2011 (8:42 am)

  The police have disengaged due to people like McGinn and Holmes, that is what is happening in Seattle

• Mn July 17, 2011 (8:48 am)

  Justice
  Your comment isn’t helpful more inflammatory
  Why is it that we all seem to have to tread so delicately and carefully when putting out perpetrator descriptions
  As a citizen in the community I want to know !!!!!!

• cjboffoli July 17, 2011 (8:49 am)

  austin: What one of the victims told police was that he felt a blow on his side. So he knew he had been struck by something but didn’t necessarily realize he had been stabbed. In the dark he wouldn’t have seen the knife. And adrenaline can do strange things to perception. I can’t say I’ve ever had the experience of being stabbed. But I have certainly heard of other cases of victims not being immediately aware of their injuries.

• RG July 17, 2011 (8:56 am)

  Justice: No worries with WSB, they have a proven long record of journalistic integrity. They are a superior news outlet that actually have (and follow) standards. Their professionalism is what keeps me tuned in.

• Viva Mexico July 17, 2011 (9:24 am)

  As one of the very few Hispanic residents in the North Admiral neighborhood, I can assure you it does not offend me to see the WSB include the suspects’ description in their coverage.This is called journalism, nothing else.
  I am also smart, successful, educated and an American citizen with rights and responsibilities. This morning when I take my Hispanic children out for a walk in the neighborhood I am not afraid of being loooked at as a “possible suspect”.
  Just lighten up.

• Daddy July 17, 2011 (9:27 am)

  Well time to make knives illegal!

• AMexicanisyourneighbor July 17, 2011 (9:36 am)

  Justice- Sorry to burst your bubble, but (“if we see a Hispanic person in North Admiral-not likely…”), there are Hispanic people living in this neighborhood, my family of four included.

• Mary T July 17, 2011 (10:09 am)

  Wow, nary a comment about how disturbing it is that a group of people took it upon themselves to STAB two other people, one of whom is in critical condition! I don’t care if who they stabbed were transients living in a park; they are HUMAN BEINGS.

  And by the way, years ago I fell and ended up with a compound fracture to my ankle. I didn’t feel a thing. It’s very strange what shock can do to a person.

• redblack July 17, 2011 (10:20 am)

  amused: major crime as a whole is down under mcginn compared to 2009. aggravated assault, however, is up this year compared to 2010.
  .
  http://www.seattle.gov/police/Crime/STATS.HTM
  .
  wow. 5-6 aggravated assaults a day. i think that says more about society than it says about the cops. i generally find cops here – especially in west seattle – to be interested, helpful, and friendly.

• Jon July 17, 2011 (10:22 am)

  Hello! more homeless living in the parks. We have homeless people all over west Seattle in the parks , their cars and our streets. I don’t know the answer but we need to look into solving this problem. I’d like to get both sides to this story…

• Jiggers July 17, 2011 (10:44 am)

  I love it when people instantly stereotype. It show how low their I.Q. is.

• marna July 17, 2011 (11:01 am)

  THANK YOU WSB for always being on the mark. After the 7th emergency vehicle went screaming by our house on California, a group of neighbors started to gather on the sidewalk to find out what was going on. Someone pulled out their phone and went to your site and we quickly learned the story. LONG LIVE WSB!!!

• bridge to somewhere July 17, 2011 (11:16 am)

  8 people against two transients-pretty bad odds. It’s funny how “tough guys” always get tough when they are in packs. Cowards.

• ENOUGH! July 17, 2011 (12:06 pm)

  Cartel activity spilling over from eastern wa. homeless meth addicts/dealers.

• david pham July 17, 2011 (1:14 pm)

  i know who did it..

  • WSB July 17, 2011 (1:17 pm)

    Great. Call police and tell them if you haven’t already, then.

• G July 17, 2011 (2:01 pm)

  Thanks Viva Mexico, for the commonsense
  attitude to this incident; this isn’t racial
  profiling, this is simply concern for our neighborhood.

• Bob Shields July 17, 2011 (2:19 pm)

  The two men have names, Zach, who is 25, and Glen the one who is 52. They live on 47th Ave SW near Admiral.

• Bob Shields July 17, 2011 (2:21 pm)

  So Dave Pham, who did it? We know the victims, they are our friends.

• Bob Shields July 17, 2011 (2:53 pm)

  Anybody who knows anything about this terrible event, please come forward. The victims are residents of the area who were merely out for a walk.

• Paul July 17, 2011 (3:27 pm)

  this is exactly why I am considering a weapons permit, even though I don’t like guns. Also I never wander outside much after 9 pm because I always see more crazies than police present

• cakeordeath July 17, 2011 (3:29 pm)

  Am I wrong or does this stuff happen in waves? There’s been a vibe lately…

  So sorry for the victims. Hoping both are stable and heal quickly.

  Any more news on suspects?

  Thanks, WSB for all that you do!

• homesick July 17, 2011 (3:35 pm)

  In the interest of public safety: Since Dave Pham claims in this public forum he knows who committed the crime, the email address he used to post his comment needs to be turned over to the Seattle Police. Him knowing this information and not giving it to the authorities is Aiding and Abetting, making him an Accessory to the perpetrators.
  WSB, please do the right thing.

• Mike July 17, 2011 (3:53 pm)

  Blame SPD for not patrolling that park enough late night. It is very dark, and South Park punks like to take it over at night. Not safe in own neighborhood anymore. Time to pack a gun at night.

• JanS July 17, 2011 (4:09 pm)

  I’m just sad to hear that I know the two victims. They are not “transients living in the park”. They were out for a walk. I live in the Admiral District, and have been known to walk to the store after dark, or a restaurant. It’s really frightening to know that streets are sometimes not safe here, too, although for the most part it’s OK. I’m betting that the perpetrators were not residents of the area. Perhaps a bigger presence at the viewpoint by authorities , esp. on weekends might help. Just sayin’. Please have good thoughts that the victims recover quickly and well.

  • WSB July 17, 2011 (5:57 pm)

    Bob and Jan, I’m sorry to hear that the information from the scene regarding the victims was inaccurate. That is to this hour the only information we have – police have not released an update on the case today and the on-call detective from Media Relations, our only avenue for information on cases like this, just told me he is not expecting access to the report before tomorrow morning (which is sooner than we would have access to it – the online system available to media/public usually lags by several days). I will publish a separate update saying that and quoting your comments, – TR

• RC July 17, 2011 (5:33 pm)

  The Hamilton Viewpoint has been an ‘attractive nuisance’ at night for years; without the frequent patroling etc that Alki gets. In the recent past there has been muggings, shootings, drug dealing, graffiti, vandalism, gang-banging, underage drinking, rapes, and more – all in the City owned park.

  Yet the City of Seattle Parks does next to nothing about improving security there; although neighborhood watches and the Seattle Police have requested the installation of night lighting; installing anti-vehicle barriers to prevent doughnuts on the lawns; and cutting back the out-of-control foilage that prevents neighborhood watch groups from effectively monitoring the situation there. It has taken many years of efforts with the neighborhood watch groups and the Seattle Police department to convince the Parks Department to even regularly secure the park gates at 11 pm. When this is not done, the neigborhood windows literally shake in their frames from the volume of bass coming from the cars at 2am, 3am and even 4am to which no response is often forthcoming when the police are called since there are overiding priorities elsewhere.

  As the City of Seattle slides downhill faster and faster into gangland crime and violence under the dismissive eye of Mayor McGinn and his set of out-of-touch enviro-geeks; the rest of the law-abiding (and unrepresented) citizens within Seattle’s largest neighborhood here are further disconsolate and discouraged from our local government’s involvement towards resolving our societal devolvement.

• G July 17, 2011 (6:30 pm)

  Gangs are here. Does anyone remember the gang initiation rites that were taking place in Lincoln Park story several years ago?

  I grew up in old school WS and remember when hoodlums knew they didn’t come here and start trouble, and we didn’t go to their hood and start trouble.

  Sure, you can’t put a gate on West Seattle, but there is a naive and permissive vibe here now that certainly doesn’t discourage this kind of behavior.

  Maybe this isn’t PC, but I don’t care; this is my home.

• Udmiou1 July 17, 2011 (8:19 pm)

  Kudos to WSB for their speed on the scene and to our city Fire, Medic and Police for their extraordinary response time.
  As for keeping tabs on what goes on in that park, it seems to me that a plausible solution may be cameras with signs indicating as such – if we can afford those solar speed signs that slow people down, surely someone might consider a camera that could save a life (or 2).
  Just because we live in an affluent neighborhood, we are not entitled to be void of common crimes; however as a community, there is strength in numbers and funds to support measures that could make people think twice about choosing to commit crime in our area….food for thought.

• todd_ July 17, 2011 (8:54 pm)

  Amen RC.. The Parks Dept. can’t even keep dogs off of playfields and play areas.

• DBurns July 17, 2011 (9:21 pm)

  “whats up with west seattle lately? white center is trickling down in the good parts”
  .
  Do people really believe this?

• Mike July 17, 2011 (9:44 pm)

  todd_, read this http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?d=CODE&s1=9.25.084.snum.&Sect5=CODE1&Sect6=HITOFF&l=20&p=1&u=%2F~public%2Fcode1.htm&r=1&f=G you might want to think twice before yelling at somebody with a dog next time. I get a kick out of the guy that says “no pets on school grounds” to me when I have my dog at the playground. Guess they never took time to read the actual code listed on the sign.

• JanS July 17, 2011 (9:54 pm)

  Mike…as long as your dog is on a leash, you clean up after it, and you’re not there during school hours…well, then, go for it. What does this have to do with the stabbing last night?

• sna July 17, 2011 (10:24 pm)

  I thought todd was refering to the fact that Hamilton Viewpoint is constantly used as an off leash park.

• todd_ July 17, 2011 (11:05 pm)

  Not trying to start anything here .. The context was RC saying the Parks Dept. has failed to honor requests that could make the park more safe. In that context I was saying (in frustration) that the Parks Dept can’t even enforce the signs they put up at playfields and play areas in West Seattle that say “no dogs allowed .. up to $150 fine.” Off topic but myself and many others in West Seattle wish dog owners would read the signs and comply, as well as, scoop the poop which is also a law.. Here is the law I was referring to, SMC 18.12.080 and here is a link http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?d=CODE&s1=18.12.080.snum.&Sect5=CODE1&Sect6=HITOFF&l=20&p=1&u=/~public/code1.htm&r=1&f=G

  and here is the verbiage I was referring to: A. Except as expressly allowed in subsection B hereof, it is unlawful for
  any person to allow or permit any dog or other pet to run at large in any
  park, or to permit any dog or other pet WITH or WITHOUT a leash, except
  Seeing Eye or Hearing Ear dogs or dogs used by public law enforcement
  agencies and under control of a law enforcement officer, to enter any public
  beach, swimming or wading area, pond, fountain, stream, organized athletics
  area or designated children’s play area.

  Mike – I don’t approach people with dogs to tell them what to do but according to the law I referenced above, dogs are not allowed at playgrounds on or off leash which is where you said you take your dog.

  • WSB July 17, 2011 (11:23 pm)

    I have a bit more information from police regarding Hamilton Viewpoint and regular checks – it’ll be in the short followup on last night’s stabbings that I hope to finish within 15 minutes or so, will add the link here when it’s up – TR

• todd_ July 17, 2011 (11:29 pm)

  Hi Mike. Thanks for the link, I tried to edit my comment but time ran out. It looks like there are differences in the laws between dogs at schools (what you were referring to) and parks (what I was referring to).

• visitor July 18, 2011 (12:58 am)

  The city is and will be closing parks facilities; they certainly don’t have enough money to patrol all the parks 24/7!!! Putting lights at Hamilton Viewpoint is not a solution. There have been many studies done on the effect of lighting on criminal activity, and basically what lights do is increase the perception of safety, but no effect on frequency/severity of incidents. Also, the best way to get a LOT of people complaining passionately about something is to install lights in a park.

• RC July 18, 2011 (1:03 am)

  As the Seattle Police Department has repeatedly told those in the community block watch programs, they cannot be there 24/7. They do try to do regular patrols, but with cutbacks and increased activities in other areas, they often cannot be as active as we may want them to be. Plus, they are often more focused upon raising $ for city coffers through revenue enhancement traffic enforcement activities versus crime prevention activities.

  For private property owners, such as nightclubs,private homes in which the residents hold parties that disturb the neighborhood and have activities that attract commission of crimes, and even the victims of graffiti, the property owners are held responsible for doing something to resolve the situation.

  However, in the case where it is the city itself that is the non-responsive neighborhood nuisance, nothing is done and nobody is held accountable for improving the conditions that allow criminal activities to proceed unchecked that then futher goes to promote more of the same ilk to be attracted to these locations.

  It gets me that the city parks departments then later comes to us tax-paying citizens with hat-in-hand to fund more improvements when they have shown they are not sufficiently capable nor interested in keeping what is currently on the books maintained nor secure.

  Instead it takes some level of violent tragedy to get anyone’s attention these days; especially as we in West Seattle do not seem to have anyone on the city council to represent our neighborhood concerns and needs, despite being Seattle’s largest neighborhood.

  So we get expenditures on Sherril Lanes paralleling existing bicycle/pedestrian paths instead of $ to address improving the elements of our social stability and community safety. We get the continued expensive shenanigans to delay and impede the SR-99 project versus funding successful anti-gang efforts that persuade youths to take up alternatives to the drug and violence that our local government officials seem so willing to accept as not being in THEIR neighborhoods! They are willing to accept poor schools and special-interest underhanded dealings that result in multimillion $ undervaluations for real-estate in the Madison Valley to be transferred to their special friends; and then have the gaul to cut the school education programs that keep kids away from becoming the roving gangs that end up stabbing others in our neighborhoods.

  Time for us to get a clue!

• datamuse July 18, 2011 (8:12 am)

  I’m confused, RC. Are you angry about bike lanes or gang activity?

• wseadawg July 18, 2011 (12:57 pm)

  Time to patrol your neighborhoods in groups. Do not lock your doors and pull your shades, or you surrender to the creeps and scumbags. Arm yourselves if you must. The bad guys are.

• sparkybo July 18, 2011 (4:19 pm)

  Just checking in… is the short follow up ready yet (that was mentioned last night about 11:30pm)? Was it going to be posted here or somewhere else and I’m missing it? Thank you.

• sparkybo July 18, 2011 (4:21 pm)

  Ooops, sorry WSB, I just found it posted on the right side column. Thanks.

• Aman July 19, 2011 (4:36 pm)

  Any NEW detailed report released yet from SPD on the North Admiral Hamilton View Point Area stabbings on late Saturday evening July 16th?

  • WSB July 19, 2011 (6:04 pm)

    I last checked the online system around midday today. Checking again.

• Noelle July 19, 2011 (9:59 pm)

  Thank you WSB- you guys do great work!

• Dang July 22, 2011 (4:50 pm)

  Everyone just needs to chill out.

• Nizzle Won July 26, 2011 (11:14 am)

  This is why I have a c.w.p. and carry a gun. Not to start anything but just to make sure that this doesnt happen to me, my loved ones, or just any innocent person period.

Sorry, comment time is over.