About the police response at 35th/Austin in Gatewood

We’ve received several calls about a police response at 35th/Austin (map) – the original call was “assault with weapons”; one witness said there was a report of someone seen in the neighborhood with a gun. At the scene, officers told us it’s being investigated as a case of suicide. SW Austin is blocked off on the west side of 35th SW.

(As always when mentioning suicide, we want to point out a local resource for those considering self-harm or otherwise in crisis: The Crisis Clinic has a 24-hour hotline, 206-461-3222.)

35 Replies to "About the police response at 35th/Austin in Gatewood"

  • Heidi A December 25, 2014 (6:00 pm)

    This happened on our block between 35th and 37th. A few of neighbors saw most of it. A man and woman were arguing. Our neighbor heard the man yell “are you scared now?” Two shots and the man turned the gun on himself. The woman ran toward a house. It’s not clear if she was shot or what happened to her. Hoping she’s ok. Sad, unreal Christmas day on Austin.

    • WSB December 25, 2014 (6:17 pm)

      Heidi – thank you. There is no report of anyone else being injured.

  • onion December 25, 2014 (7:01 pm)

    Christmas can be very trying and emotional. I feel very sad for all parties to this terrible ordeal.

  • M December 25, 2014 (8:01 pm)

    My teenage son and I drove by there a couple of hours ago and, of course, he was fascinated by the large police presence and crime scene tape. I told him I’d look on the WSB and see what was up. When he came in a few minutes ago and asked me if I’d seen anything about it I told him that it was a false alarm, and then went in the bathroom and cried.

  • justme December 25, 2014 (8:29 pm)

    Christmas is a very sad sad time for many people. And the stress of the “should do’s” of the season. I’m really trying to unplug from all those things but sadly there’s a loss in doing so.

  • kilikina December 25, 2014 (9:23 pm)

    This is such a sad loss. So very heartbreaking. Like you “justme” I distance myself from a lot of the “should do’s” during this time of year as well. It’s just too much. I spend the days leading up to Christmas with friends and we exchange gifts on my Bday which is on the 20th.. (my family lives in another country). Then on Christmas I just take the time to myself spend time alone to relax and begin to unwind from the long and crazy year I’ve had. The other thing that I do a lot of is volunteer the day after Xmas.. it’s so much fun and so rewarding..

    I’m so sorry for this family and that man who took his own life. My heart goes out to them..

  • Maia December 25, 2014 (10:01 pm)

    So tragic. This is about 6 houses down from us & we ran outside when we noticed the police lights flashing. My heart goes out to those involved & their families. Echoing other thoughts- Christmas can be very painful for some people. Feeling a lot of compassion.

  • Jacqueline December 25, 2014 (10:37 pm)

    We live @ 35th & Holden and were on scype with family when we saw loads of police cars rush by with no sirens & stop 1 block up. The police parked so fast & went running. About 2 minutes later they were putting tape up and they were there for hours. So sad to hear this was a shooting or suicide. We thought it was pretty bad because the tape went up so fast & no ambulance came. Guns…ugh.

  • Austin neighbor December 25, 2014 (11:22 pm)

    As a neighbor who witnessed some of this, it seemed like a volatile situation. He had a gun and was wielding it in the street, pointing it at his head and at others. It was a frightening situation and as tragic as it is for the family, I’m thankful that no one else lost their life today.

  • Commenter December 26, 2014 (12:26 am)

    I live on this street but was not there during the incident. Does anyone know if it was resident of the apartments on the corner or at a house on Austin? Was it an argument between a man and woman that escalated, or something else? Did he appear to be on drugs or intoxicated? This is very concerning and scary. I also do not have sympathy for anyone who threatens others with guns – holiday stress or not. No excuse.

  • JanS December 26, 2014 (1:34 am)

    Commenter…you do realize the he committed suicide. Not a time, in my opinion, to castigate anyone. It’s very sad. If there are details to answer your questions, I’m sure they’ll come out…or not. Honestly, whether he was on drugs, whether he had been drinking really doesn’t matter to me. He took his own life…on Christmas Day..what more do you need to know?

  • Neighbor December 26, 2014 (1:52 am)

    To commenter: it did not involve the apartment complex on the corner of 35th and Austin.

  • Vincent Dakotah Langley December 26, 2014 (3:06 am)

    If you are a veteran and in crisis, PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-273-8255 and then press “1”. This number reaches a national crisis center that is set up to help veterans with crisis matters.

  • Peter December 26, 2014 (8:27 am)

    I think it’s sad for family and residents to have to feel threatened or worried that someone is on a neighborhood street using a loaded gun in unsafe and threatening way — they don’t have a choice. The man using the gun, even on himself, made a choice at some point. I don’t think people would be as sympathetic if he shot someone first before he did himself.

  • Webster neighbor December 26, 2014 (9:50 am)

    The house where this occurred sits in our back yard. I heard one shot and thought maybe someone was celebrating Christmas by letting off a firework. Then immediately came screaming from several people. “He shot himself! My son! He killed himself!” I don’t know if the suicide happened inside or out in front of their house.
    The middle age couple that lives there are very nice and friendly neighbors. I often saw the son pacing while smoking and spitting, never friendly. Despite the pain he was going through,suicide is the ultimate selfish act- my heart goes out to those who have to go on after experiencing such a tragedy.

    • WSB December 26, 2014 (10:01 am)

      WN, thank you for commenting. But there is an important point here – it is a **myth** that suicide is “selfish.” Regardless of the circumstances – and the circumstances here certainly were dangerous and frightening to others – as this writer puts it, “Suicide is a desperate act by someone who is intense pain and wants their pain to stop.” We try to write as responsibly about it as we can here … I survived suicidal ideation while suffering from anxiety disorder in my 20s and finally understood, very clearly, how someone can consider death preferable to life with constant pain/fear … and there is help … to help someone get through the next minute, the next hour, the next day, the next week, and hopefully beyond … which is why we mention the Crisis Clinic hotline for starters. http://crisisclinic.org/find-help/suicide-support/

  • Linda Satterlee-Smith December 26, 2014 (10:03 am)

    He took his own life in front of his family in front of that house! I was at the bottom of the steps trying get him to stop. I tried to restrain him and take the gun away from him.
    I am that mans sister.
    If any of you like to know the truth that does care feel free to send me a private message.
    For Know Our Family Needs Pryers!

  • Heidi A December 26, 2014 (10:47 am)

    Linda, I’m sorry for your loss. We live down the street and our prayers are with you. I have a brother who was homeless and suffered from paranoid delusions. Suicide is not a selfish act, it’s a manifestation of a lot of pain. There few resources to turn to when a loved one is suffering from mental illness. Believe me,I looked for help and found nothing. If we want to prevent these situations and those like Sandy Jook, we need to make public resources and funsung for treatment a priority.

  • enviromaven December 26, 2014 (10:50 am)

    Ms. Satterlee-Smith, I am so very sorry for your loss and send condolences and prayers to you and your family. Tracy, thank you for your courage, compassion, and insight with regard to suicide awareness and intervention. I can relate completely.

  • Kayo December 26, 2014 (10:57 am)

    Linda, my heart goes out to you and your family. I can’t imagine what you are going through. I am so sorry for your loss.

  • Neighbor December 26, 2014 (11:56 am)

    Thank you for taking the time to share what happened. Your family is in my thoughts and I hope that everyone finds healing and comfort in time. I believe I know the home and when I had met they couple they were incredibly kind and welcoming.

  • Diane December 26, 2014 (12:14 pm)

    Linda; thank you for sharing; so sorry for your loss; kudos to you for trying to restrain him and get the gun away; glad to hear you were not physically injured in the process, and that no one else in your family were physically injured; prayers for healing for you all; if you want someone to talk to in confidence, or just hugs, please feel free to contact me at 206-949-7377 or divincent@aol.com (wsblog does not have a way to message you here, so I don’t know how to reach you privately)

  • miws December 26, 2014 (12:22 pm)

    Linda, I’m so sorry for the loss that you and your Family are dealing with right now.

    .

    I’ve had two suicides deeply affect me, in my life, both decades ago. The first was my Father, about a month before I turned 14, the other, a Friend that I had been best buddies with until we were around 11 and my Family moved away from West Seattle, he was 22 when he took his life.

    .

    As others have said, suicide is a manifestation of deep, emotional pain. It is not selfish, nor is it, as some choose to claim, an act of cowardice. Actually, it takes a great deal of courage for one to live with, in many cases, the years of pain, before they are absolutely unable to deal with it anymore.

    .

    Mike

  • ScubaFrog December 26, 2014 (12:23 pm)

    Linda my prayers, heart and thoughts are with you, and your family. I’m so sorry for your loss.

    WSB thank you for elaborating on suicide, and telling us about your experience. I can empathize, I’ve had my own issues to that end.

  • G December 26, 2014 (1:55 pm)

    I couldn’t agree more, Mike. Well put.

  • Diane December 26, 2014 (2:17 pm)

    what Mike (miws) said; thank you

  • justme December 26, 2014 (3:28 pm)

    Thank you Mike. In my family too.

  • Next Door December 26, 2014 (4:09 pm)

    I have lived next door to this family for close to 30 years and have enjoyed them as neighbors the whole time. I have had the privilege on watching there children grow into adults with all of the associated joys and problems that go with it. I think we all know the intense pressures and problems life can throw our way can drive anyone to the brink of desperation and pain. This was a fine young man who worked so very hard and rarely got the breaks he deserved. I will miss him .

  • West Seattle Hipster December 26, 2014 (4:53 pm)

    Very sorry for your loss Linda.

  • Jason December 26, 2014 (5:42 pm)

    Life is so hard sometimes, it can be hard any time of year but I agree that it sometimes seems even harder around the holidays. Between finances, the pressure we put on ourselves to please others with gifts, the fact that it feels like it’s light only a few hours a day around here, etc. I really am sorry for the suffering experienced by this man and his family.

  • Vanessa December 26, 2014 (6:07 pm)

    To Linda,family and friends. I struggle to write anything that could possibly matter. But we are your neighbors and your community. Our hearts breaks with you.

  • Holden neighbor December 26, 2014 (11:23 pm)

    I drove past and saw the police tape last night. I wasn’t sure what happened, and now it’s heartbreaking to hear the news. For what little solace it is, know that your neighbors are with you…thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

  • Kravitz December 27, 2014 (9:45 am)

    I used to live on this street and still miss the wonderful people in this neighborhood, many of which have been there for decades and always look out for one another. I am so sad to hear and know now, who this was. Linda, please know that neighbors (past and present) of your family are thinking of you with compassion, kindness and love right now. We’re so very sorry for your loss.

  • Linda Satterlee-Smith December 31, 2014 (11:40 am)

    Thank You Everybody for Your Kind Words and Prayers for Our Family in Our Time of Need!
    It’s amazing on how your neighbors and community are there for you in a time of need.
    Thank You From All of Us!
    In Loving Memory of Toby Ray Satterlee!
    You will be missed!

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