FOLLOWUP: White Center stabbing victim ID’d as West Seattle restaurants’ employee; community contributions sought

| Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

(White Center Now photo from Sunday night)
Two nights ago, on our partner site White Center Now, we reported on a stabbing at 15th and Roxbury in White Center, as King County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives searched for three men who stabbed a 26-year-old after he got off a bus. What we didn’t know until tonight is that the victim is an employee at two West Seattle restaurants. The co-proprietor of one, Ma’Ono’s Marjorie Chang Fuller, forwarded us the YouCaring page that seeks help for the victim’s recovery, with this update:

Ramon Aspeitia is a highly respected and extremely hard working employee at both Shadowland and Ma’ono in the West Seattle Junction neighborhood. He was viciously attacked by 3 men and brutally stabbed in the back on his commute home after work Sunday Oct 25th around 6:30 pm at his bus transfer in White Center. He is currently in Harborview Medical Center, fighting to be stabilized and to regain feeling in the lower half of his body. We are all hoping for a full recovery and he could use your thoughts and prayers at this time. This is gonna take a tremendous toll on his family and of course his 2 children. We’re asking the community to help in any way they can. Every bit will help his family with the medical and monthly bills while he recovers. His family will greatly appreciate anything you can do to help..

Here’s the direct link.

PSPS October 27, 2015 (6:48 pm)

Why don’t these “two West Seattle restaurants” provide their employees with health insurance?

WSobserver October 27, 2015 (7:13 pm)

I’d like to donate, but not through the internet.

Is there a mailing address available? I didn’t see one on the link.

Don Brubeck October 27, 2015 (7:15 pm)

Health insurance does not pay the full hospital bills, or any of the rent, groceries, other bills.

Friend O'Dinghus October 27, 2015 (7:45 pm)

Perhaps they do PSPS, or maybe he has coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Deductibles (which are ridiculously high even for the best of health plans), loss of income during recovery, food at Thanksgiving, a little something for kids this coming Christmas.
May this family be blessed with a quick and full recovery for Mr. Aspeitia.

JanS October 27, 2015 (7:52 pm)

thank you Don…people don’t realize that loss of income like this can be devastating…

PSPS…do the right thing and donate…

Carol October 27, 2015 (7:53 pm)

Can we walk into Ma’ono with a donation?

ak October 27, 2015 (8:05 pm)

Yeah, I’d say that it will be hard for him to keep working two jobs (that likely help support his family, not just him) if he’s in Harborview. Best of luck to him in his recovery, and thank you for sharing ways that we can help someone in our community!

Sara October 27, 2015 (8:10 pm)

Wow @psps that’s your first response?

Thanks for sharing the link. This is a sad thing to happen to west Seattle. Appreciate the info to donate.

Melissa October 27, 2015 (8:11 pm)

PSPS, both the Fullers and Shadowland have donated $1000 apiece. What have you done?

This guy has kids. He has bills to pay. He has two jobs that he’ll be away from for who knows how long. He’s a hard-working citizen who’s the victim of an awful crime. Let’s help.

KM October 27, 2015 (8:13 pm)

PSPS, unfortunately I’ve had a family member become a victim of violent attack and there is so much health insurance cannot do to support a person and their family during those times, not to mention this gentleman was bringing in wages to his family that are likely not instantly replaced while he is recovering. In addition, receiving victim’s fund money can be a delayed and tough process, if it happens at all. If you’d like to help out, the link is above.

PSPS October 27, 2015 (8:48 pm)

My comment was merely a commentary about the sad state of affairs in the country. There was a time when employers routinely covered their employees with their group policy, there was such a thing as disability coverage to keep wages coming in, etc. Now, there has to be a weekly bake sale or donation drive just to keep people afloat when struck with adversity.

Jacque October 27, 2015 (9:09 pm)

I am so sick of all the haters that have moved here most likely self absorbed newbie rich transplants or self cynical local idiots who contribute nothing to the Locsl economy….move Sourh MF….. But for those of us whom stay and fight for our local business!!! Mark and Marjorie have employed local staff at living wages way before the $15 set in! Let’s get rid of the —- moving in and demand condos versus apartments! All we get in apt dwellers is those seeking a few months free rent no one that gives a crap about local businesses! Rich brats paying absurd prices shopping Online not local!! If we want true investment build for buyers!!! AND MaOno cares about their employees it’s a family run business…..

WSB October 27, 2015 (9:19 pm)

According to Marjorie, anyone who would like to help, but not via the online account, can do that by stopping by Ma’Ono or Shadowland.

Jackson October 27, 2015 (9:39 pm)

@Jacque what crazy rant are you going on about? Your post made no sense.

Amanda October 27, 2015 (10:14 pm)

Ramon Aspeitia is a beautiful, trust worthy, reliable young man who did not deserve this. His tireless effort and lighthearted spirit will be missed from fellow coworkers. My deepest condolences go out to Ramon and family. Not the lack of work insurance.
Full recovery and Godspeed!

Maryann Stensrude October 27, 2015 (10:22 pm)

Crime is rampant everywhere. It’s a whacked out world. I am just glad that he is alive! I pray for his full recovery – young father minding his own business. Health insurance or not (as some people are going on about), the medical costs will always outweigh that.

dsa October 27, 2015 (11:01 pm)

Please add paypal.

Jim P. October 27, 2015 (11:37 pm)

That bus stop/transfer point has always been “exciting”. I’ve never felt safe there, day or night.

Be nice to see more police or transit security presence there. In fact, *any* presence would be nice.

Isn’t/wasn’t there a sub station for the Sherrifs a block or so over?

My deepest sympathies to the guy who got attacked. We all suffer when one suffers needlessly.

WSB October 27, 2015 (11:44 pm)

A little more than a block away is the White Center “storefront” for KCSO. Not by any means a substation/precinct – it’s a small office where a community-service officer can be found, and sometimes the “storefront deputy,” which is not a 24/7 position (and has at times been in danger of elimination altogether). WC and vicinity may have as few as two deputies patroling the entire expanded area, according to what KCSO reps have said at the many meetings of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council that we’ve covered in the seven years we’ve had WCN. The bus stop is the jurisdiction of Metro Transit Police – which also is a subset of the Sheriff’s Office, and relatively thinly staffed. As understaffed as SPD is, KCSO has it worse. – TR

NotOnHolden October 28, 2015 (8:09 am)

This is absolutely horrible. Any plans for Metro to release bus camera footage, anything to identify the perpetrators?

hj October 28, 2015 (9:10 am)

@Jackson: the explanation is that Jacque is attempting to hijack this tragedy with dumb generalizations and blaming renters for everything.

Lisa October 28, 2015 (9:17 am)

Nosotros orando por la familia y Ramon. (We are praying for the family and Ramon) @dsa yes, please add paypal.

Lindsey October 28, 2015 (11:10 am)

This is terrible. My thoughts and prayers are with Ramon and his family.

Morgan (The Beer Junction) October 28, 2015 (11:53 am)

This is such a sad story. We love going to our neighboring businesses (Shadowland and Ma’Ano) and would like to help out Ramon.

Tomorrow (Thursday 10/29; 5-8PM) The Beer Junction will be having our regularly scheduled Thursday Night Beer Tasting. We’ll be donating 100% of the $4 tasting fees to Ramon’s family. The tasting theme tomorrow night will be “Winter Beer Preview” with 5 different beer samples and cookies provided as well. We’ll have a donation jar out as well if anyone wishes to donate additional amounts.

Hoping for a speedy recovery for Ramon.

Born on Alki 59 October 28, 2015 (12:20 pm)

Thanks Morgan. We’ll be there to support Ramon and his family. Beer AND cookies, superb!
Jacque….wtf, really?

btowne October 28, 2015 (12:47 pm)

This is horrible- I will be stopping into donate.

Jacque- You sound like the worse hater of all.

ws_suzanne October 28, 2015 (2:54 pm)

Morgan of the Beer Junction — Thank you! I don’t normally have time to hang out anymore (small business owner myself) but will make a point of going tomorrow.

And I’m heading to Ma’Ono today drop off a check for Ramon. I don’t know him but LOVE this restaurant. The owners are wonderful and they hire truly great people.

Bryan October 28, 2015 (6:14 pm)

PSPS, have you ever had to take a medical leave of absence? Even if you have really good insurance there will always be a deductible to pay. If you’re not working on top of that you have no income. Health insurance doesn’t cover loss of income. If your in the hospital and ongoing therapy, God help you with paying for that, health insurance or not. PSPS, you’re comment reflects an ignorance of all this and being out of touch with the realities of severe injuries.

Amy October 28, 2015 (6:23 pm)

So sad

Amy October 28, 2015 (6:24 pm)

I hope he recovers.

Jim October 28, 2015 (9:25 pm)

PSPS responded very quickly with an idiotic reply. Nothing else to do but look for stories about crime in WC?? Morgan, keep the donation jar open for a few days. I can not make it in on Thursday but would like to contribute. Thanks for caring.

C October 29, 2015 (4:49 am)

Just to clear up the insurance question, Shadowland does offer insurance to its employees. not that this should be the issue here

Magpie October 29, 2015 (2:47 pm)

I am so proud of my community. I just checked the donation site and over $10,000 donated, most, probably from people who don’t know Ramon. I am so proud that I live in such a caring place. The site has had hundreds of shares. Hopefully, these guys will get caught and some justice will be served.

Also, a big shout out to the owners of Shadowland and Ma’ono and for the Beer Junction for helping out.

Sorry, comment time is over.