Update: Arrest in White Center shooting; suspect jailed

| Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WSB/WCN)
8:09 PM: The Seattle Times (WSB news partner), quoting KING 5, reports one arrest in connection with yesterday morning’s murder of 23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi at 15th/Roxbury in White Center. We’ve been working to confirm this, since getting reports of police activity in Highland Park, about half a mile north of the shooting scene, but haven’t heard back yet from SPD (who would have jurisdiction in that area) or King County Sheriff’s Office (who are handling the murder case). More information as we get it; earlier today, surveillance video was released showing what investigators described as 3 suspects in the case.

9:15 PM: People who live in the Highland Park neighborhood where police activity was reported earlier tell WSB/WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz that one man was arrested – but there is no official information yet linking that arrest to this case, so we’re not going into any further specifics, nor has KCSO yet officially announced an arrest.

10:16 PM UPDATE: A homicide suspect has been booked into King County Jail within the past hour – and his first name is the same one that was mentioned to us at the aforementioned arrest scene in Highland Park. The homicide suspect’s online court records include 30 incidents, including theft and drug cases.

11:23 PM UPDATE: The suspect was most recently in jail for four days in March after an arrest for DUI and driving with a suspended license, according to the jail register. The online court-records site that provides most detailed information is shut down for the night, so there’s some research we won’t be able to do till morning. We also will find out tomorrow how soon a bail hearing will be scheduled.

11 AM THURSDAY: KCSO has finally sent a news release confirming the arrest:

Yesterday afternoon at around 4:30 PM, a 25-year-old man was arrested for his role in the White Center homicide that occurred early Tuesday morning.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, along with members of the TAC-30 SWAT team and the Gang Unit all assisted in the peaceful apprehension of this suspect at his home, which was not far from the shooting scene. The identification of the suspect was made through deputies and detectives that work the White Center area, along with tips generated through the release of the surveillance footage.

“The citizens and business owners of White Center were upset to hear of this tragedy in their area,” according to Major James Graddon, Commander of the Sheriff’s Office West precinct. “They have been working hard with us for many years to improve public safety in their neighborhoods. This incident will ultimately be resolved through the continued support of the community and the efforts of the deputies and detectives.”

There are still two suspects outstanding in this incident. Any information that the public may have on any of the three suspects is still needed. Tips may be phoned in to (206) 296-3311 or 9-1-1.

datamuse August 17, 2011 (8:23 pm)

My husband saw a SWAT team on Henderson on his way back from Full Tilt earlier this evening. I was wondering if it had something to do with this case.

smokeycretin9 August 17, 2011 (8:49 pm)

Two African American males in their early 20’s were pulled over and arrested at 21st and Roxbury. Dont know if this was them. I overheard one of the males tell the officer he had no i.d. and he then refused to give his name or birthdate. Hence, he was arrested. The driver had warrants.

heather August 17, 2011 (9:23 pm)

yes they took someone into custody from the swat team raid. he was one of the suspects on the video.

NotMe August 17, 2011 (9:25 pm)

Oh, so right away you are drawing a link becuase it was two young black males? Good Lord, please move back to wherever you came from and leave my neighborhood, k?

(required) August 17, 2011 (10:25 pm)

Thanks for the news WSB, and for the comments, datamuse and smokeycretin9. Thank you most of all to the law enforcement officers who worked this case so far and who are continuing to work this case of senseless violence. I hope the perpetrators are caught and that they meet no better fate than their victim.

Velo_nut August 17, 2011 (10:42 pm)

Notme…. If the shoe fits

kunta August 17, 2011 (10:43 pm)

that sucks! i was hoping the “streets” would have taken care these pos. now i gotta pay to house and feed these vermin!

cakeordeath August 17, 2011 (10:58 pm)

“30 incidents”!!!! Aye carumba.

Joel August 17, 2011 (10:59 pm)

30 previous arrests…certainly not surprised. just maybe they’ll keep him locked up this time. it’s too bad it takes a murder to finally put someone away. by his record he should have been put away LONG ago.

george August 18, 2011 (12:02 am)

“But they’re such nice kids.”

wsguy August 18, 2011 (1:12 am)

“30 previous arrests” Are u kidding me. And now someones dead. Darn shame.

Jeremy August 18, 2011 (2:31 am)

This is not the White Center of 30 years ago where it was safe to walk to the Safeway there and back without looking over your shoulder. I wish there was some way we can take this place and give it back to the law abiding citizens while at the same time throwing out the trash.

Bloch List August 18, 2011 (2:40 am)

Probably the same perpetrators who are “tagging” the hell out of private and public property all around the area. I’m sick and tired of seeing neighborhoods being constantly “trashed” by lowlifes like this.

marty August 18, 2011 (9:33 am)

NotMe: How is life with your head in the sand?

Ex-Westwood Resident August 18, 2011 (9:33 am)

“I wish there was some way we can take this place and give it back to the law abiding citizens while at the same time throwing out the trash.”

My sentiments exactly Jeremy.

There is a way to accomplish this, but our elected officials and to a lesser extent the voting public lack the courage to do this.

These three “people” (and I use the term loosely) didn’t just delve into the world of crime. They have committed criminal acts before and have been caught. The lack of the justice system an acting in a forceful manner and punishing the crimes committed by not only these three, but ALL youth crime foster a belief that they can “get away” with it. By the time they reach this point it’s too late to correct this behavior for a majority of these law breakers.

The “people” elect judges that refuse to look at the crime and instead look at the age, gender, socio-economic status of the perpetrator and pass sentence adjusted for those reasons. But it’s not just the judges that get elected that affect this. The city leaders have a greater responsibility, it’s THEIR JOB to ensure that the residents of the city are protected from this element. They ensure that by providing the police force/prosecutors office with proper funding, manpower and MOST IMPORTANTLY the authority to arrest and incarcerate those that will not abide by the laws of a civilized society.

Think of it as house breaking a puppy. When he messes in the house you might swat him and rub his nose in it, but it has to be done AT THAT TIME, or it makes no sense. If you ignore it, pretty soon you have an adult dog that thinks it’s OK to mess in the house. Rather simplified I know, but the analogy is accurate.

Want to see the streets of WC, Seattle, Burien and any other place safe? Start by enforcing the law on youth crime. Send them not to “juvie” but to a REAL prison. Start making prisons the absolutely WORSE place to be. Prisons are meant be places where criminals go for PUNISHMENT, not “rehab”. Stop listening to the psych-babble BS that are spouted by the so-called experts on the reasons for youth crime.

EWR

Dunno August 18, 2011 (10:51 am)

Everyone’s a sociology expert.

Jiggers August 18, 2011 (1:14 pm)

Innocent until proven guilty.

Delridgian August 18, 2011 (1:19 pm)

Thank you Ex-Westwood Resident, absolutely agree.

2 Much Whine August 18, 2011 (2:41 pm)

Are Four Loko cans now considered a fitting tribute to someone that was gunned down in cold blood? I guess I’m used to roses or flowers . . . . . I guess I need to get with the times.

westseattlered August 18, 2011 (3:22 pm)

ex-westwood resident – you can’t seriously think when people go to jail and prison now it is rehab and not punishment. if it were truly rehab, we would have created a better citizen when he was locked up the 1st or 2nd time. we need to design our criminal justice system knowing that people are released and make them better citizens. currently when someone gets their foot in the door of our criminal justice system they get sucked in to a life a crime. we call it “set up to fail.” and i live right behind this person who was arrested (didn’t know him). i wish we had rehabbed him when we had the chance. thank you, jiggers. innocent until proven guilty. ex-westwood resident, go live in china if you want harsh and swift punishments without due process or civil rights. i still love my neighborhood!

Joel August 18, 2011 (4:35 pm)

rehad these people? that would be nice but it starts at home. when the family system is broken and it’s up to society to fix them it ain’t gonna happen. some people are just no good and need to be locked up forever so they don’t harm the public.

it would be great if everyone could be saved and nothing but happy endings but until that is possible it’s time to throw the key away for certain people….this convict should have had that happen long ago. now that he’s likely killed someone he’ll finally get some hard time in prison. but he should have been serving hard time already and would have been locked up and not out killing people.

$50 says each of these kids does not know who their father is

Mike August 18, 2011 (11:03 pm)

Totally correct ex-westwood. Lets draw a comparison as to why the youth of today isnt like the youth of yesterday where issues can be settled without looking at the barrel of a gun. I long for the White Center of yesteryear. We need to take our streets and our neighborhoods back pronto.

Admiral August 19, 2011 (8:35 pm)

One thing everyone seems to miss…..this thug shot a woman in the face. What a coward.

Lori Briggs-Canning August 31, 2011 (7:02 am)

A GIANT THANK YOU to the employees at the True Value in the Junction. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR FINDING MY WALLET!!!!! They were honest and kind enough to put it into their safe for me. They ARE NOW MY FAVORITE HARDWARE STORE !!!!! :)

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