PM commute FYI: Shooting at SODO station; Sound Transit, Metro effects

4:50 PM: With many West Seattleites commuting through SODO one way or another, this seems worth a mention: There’s been a shooting at/near the SODO transit station, 5th/Lander, and it involved a King County Sheriff’s Deputy. No other details yet, and we haven’t seen word from Metro or Sound Transit yet on how/if this is affecting routes, but just an FYI. Also, if you are in North Delridge and noticed the major response of northbound SPD units from the precinct (we were in the area and saw half a dozen head north, full lights/sirens), that apparently is what they were headed for, though the response downsized shortly afterward; one texter says this brought helicopters (TV, we believe) to the SODO area near 99, too.

5 PM UPDATE: Metro has sent a text alert saying that buses are routed off the SODO Busway and off S. Holgate in that area – “use busway stops north of S. Holgate or south of S. Lander.” Sound Transit also has tweeted that Central Link light rail service is interrupted.

5:30 PM UPDATE: Both KCSO and Seattle Fire say one person, described by SFD only as “male” and by KCSO as a “suspect,” was declared dead at the scene. Sound Transit has sent an updated rider alert – see it here; Metro now says its busway reroute starts at Royal Brougham.

5:45 PM UPDATE: Per our partners at The Seattle Times, the shooting started as a confrontation involving an unarmed fare-enforcement officer, who called for backup, and the deadly shot(s) came from an armed deputy who was among those responding.

9:29 PM UPDATE: Sound Transit says normal operation has resumed.

roxy June 30, 2014 (5:24 pm)

21 local stayed on route.

g June 30, 2014 (5:48 pm)

About three months ago, I was taking the light rail to SeaTac and I saw cops at the Lander stop, and one could clearly see a copious amount of blood staining the pavement…never saw anything in the media. What a dangerous area.

Bradley June 30, 2014 (9:11 pm)

I’m glad we have King County Sheriff deputies patrolling the dangerous streets of downtown as long as the SPD is neutered by the DOJ action.

WSB June 30, 2014 (10:03 pm)

Metro Transit Police are King County Sheriff’s Deputies. That’s why you find some deputies routinely on duty in the city. Also, regarding SPD, Seattle Police rushed from all over the city to back up the fare enforcement officer who called for help – and two of them got hurt in a crash on Capitol Hill as a result. -TR
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Added: Sound Transit police are also Sheriff’s Deputies, and according to the Times account of this, the deputy involved was a ST officer.

Ditzi June 30, 2014 (10:40 pm)

Praying

bolo June 30, 2014 (11:01 pm)

Looked like it was an “All hands on deck!” situation. Aside from all the cop cars (mostly marked and unmarked KC Sheriff cars, full-throttle, sirens wailing) I saw three transit fare enforcer officers heading there (on foot!) from DO, the area just north of SODO.

Chas Redmond July 1, 2014 (12:28 am)

Was on the 60 heading towards the Beacon station when the sirens broke out. Went to the station and a train was sitting there waiting to go downtown. After 10 minutes of going nowhere with no announcement either, I asked the transit officer on duty and learned of the incident and figured Link was going to be useless for the rest of the day. Left the station and caught the 36 – silly me, should have stayed on the surface and changed from the 60 to the 36 to begin with. I would have gotten to my destination about 15 minutes sooner as the 36 and Link have about the same frequency at that time of day. I’m still amazed we haven’t yet resolved the fact that all the transportation systems in this area can be closed -seemingly to those affected – randomly at anytime or place. I’m really hopeful there can be some kind of dialog between the transportation world and the police and security world because right now “it ain’t working.”

Thistlemist July 1, 2014 (6:39 am)

Huge shout out to the security personal in the tunnels. Got off work at 5:00 without knowing there was anything up; the tunnel was filled with commuters and very frantic travelers trying to get to the airport, many of whom were not on their best behavior (on a side note – there is a reason you give yourself time to catch a flight!). The guards were top notch polite even to those getting in their face and all in all the system went well, train to stadium and then shuttle buses to Beacon to continue the light rail route. Considering what caused all of this, I am really impressed. Yes, things shut down, but at least in this instance, I felt Metro had everything under control as far as having to move a vast amount of people around a cornered off area.

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