UPDATE: Stabbing victim, 15, dies after attack at Westcrest Park

| Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 4:54 PM with police reporting that victim was a teenager and that he has died)

(WSB photos)

9:22 AM: A Seattle Fire “assault with weapons” response is arriving at 6th SW and SW Cambridge, on the edge of Westcrest Park (map). According to radio transmissions, a man believed to be in his mid-20s has multiple stab wounds. Police are searching. We’re on the way to find out more.

9:29 AM: Life-threatening injuries, according to medics’ radio discussion, which also says the man was found “on the street,” no weapon found, circumstances unknown.

9:37 AM: Our crew has arrived and says that roads around the scene are being closed off as the search continues.

9:45 AM: You may see a helicopter searching the area too. Meantime, early details have been published to SPD Blotter, including:

… Just before 9:15 AM, the victim, a man in 20’s, walked out of the woods and collapsed on a sidewalk near 6th Avenue SW and SW Cambridge Street. The man said he’d been stabbed and passersby called 911.

9:51 AM: Our crew confirms Guardian One is over the area. We’ve also spoken with a lieutenant who confirms what’s been reported previously and says that Homicide Unit detectives have been sent.

10:38 AM: No new information yet, but the investigation continues. If you have any information, call 911.

4:54 PM: Police have just provided an update – saying that the victim has died, and that he was a teenager, 15 years old, not an adult as originally believed:

The victim has died from his injuries. Detectives have confirmed he is 15 years old, not in his 20’s as previously reported. This crime occurred at the southern portion of Westcrest Park. Police are investigating and are asking anyone with information about this case to call 206-233-5000.

We just talked with SPD spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson and he confirmed that’s all the new information they have – they want to hear from anyone who might have seen or heard anything that can help with this “very active homicide investigation.” This is the third homicide investigation this year in West Seattle – the first one was the May shooting on Alki that killed a 23-year-old man (still no arrests); the second one was the baseball-bat killing of a 24-year-old man at an encampment over Highway 509 in June (two people arrested and charged).

WEDNESDAY NOTE: We have published an update on the case here.

lox September 5, 2017 (9:55 am)

I was the first person on the scene of this and called police. It was horrifying. Please pray he doesn’t die. He’s too young.

WSB September 5, 2017 (10:06 am)

Thank you for being there to help him.
td September 5, 2017 (10:45 am)

yes, thank you… his mom and sister pulled up as they were taking him to the hospital, very sad…
Marianne Brockhaus September 5, 2017 (5:54 pm)

Thank you for helping him.
Megan Schall September 5, 2017 (9:38 pm)

Thank you for helping him.

BW September 5, 2017 (11:48 am)

Prayers for this young man. And a BIG thanks to,the first responders.

I know it is horrible for all involved, my heart also hurts for his family.

Brandon September 5, 2017 (1:26 pm)

Homicide Detectives sent? Not a good sign?

WSB September 5, 2017 (1:39 pm)

I was going to add a line explaining – they’re sent to most assault-with-weapon scenes; it doesn’t necessarily mean the victim has died or is likely to. That said, I don’t have a condition update – no info available from Harborview without a name, which I don’t have, but we’ll be checking again with police soon. – TR
- lox September 5, 2017 (2:00 pm)
  
  The first responding officer just came to check on me and said they believe he is going to live. No details but it’s hopeful.

momof3boys September 5, 2017 (2:11 pm)

The unit is “Homicide & Assault” unit

Curate September 5, 2017 (3:24 pm)

Lox, my heart goes out to you, too, today. I hope you are able to get the support you need after being involved with the trauma. It is heartening that the responding officer came to check on you.

Jessica September 5, 2017 (4:25 pm)

Unfortunately he did not make it. I have his family on Facebook and his sister posted he is gone.

WSB September 5, 2017 (4:53 pm)

Police have just confirmed that. We’re updating. So sorry to hear it.
lox September 5, 2017 (7:24 pm)

I don’t know how to go about it but I would like to be able to offer the family my condolences and tell them what happened if they want to know. I’m grief stricken and want them to know they are not alone.
- cbof September 6, 2017 (9:29 am)
  
  LOX,
  
  If you’d like to talk, I may be able to relate to what you’re going through right now. You’re not alone, either. careybof at gmail

Gracie September 5, 2017 (4:52 pm)

I wish they knew who did this or if this is the job of some crazy random person on the loose. I walk the area almost daily with my dog. I’m sending healing thoughts to the victim involved as well as comfort to his family. How sad

Mike September 5, 2017 (5:11 pm)

I’m sick. Just 15 years old. Lost.

Mary Ellen O'Connor September 5, 2017 (5:14 pm)

So so sad.

Jared September 5, 2017 (5:59 pm)

So awful. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Mark September 5, 2017 (6:22 pm)

Hopefully SPD can find the attacker and the prosecutor gets the perp where he or she belongs, behind bars.

This crime is sad, the kid was only 15 years old just entering the prime of his life, the perp needs to be found and made accountable

S September 5, 2017 (6:26 pm)

Horrible. So sorry to hear.

Wsrez September 5, 2017 (6:42 pm)

Sorry to read the sad update. Thoughts and prayers for friends and family.

Only 15 years old! What in the world happened? This makes no sense.

Tanya September 5, 2017 (6:52 pm)

This is so very sad. So young and close to home…my thoughts are with the family.

lox September 5, 2017 (7:09 pm)

Beyond devastated. 💔

Elle Nell September 5, 2017 (7:22 pm)

This is totally shocking…. I’m am so sorry for this boys family.

I have a 15yr old and am hoping for more info… are we looking at a random incident, weirdo killer on the loose or what?

So so so sad…

RIP young man…

WSB September 5, 2017 (7:35 pm)

Sometimes the report narrative will have a little more information, and I’ll be requesting that tomorrow. Otherwise, nothing has been released publicly about anything police have might have found about the circumstances and whether they have any idea if it was random. I was hoping to get a chance to ask Ops Lt. Ron Smith about it at tonight’s WWRHAH meeting – he was on the agenda for a crime-stats update, but wasn’t here after all. – TR

Spokant September 5, 2017 (8:19 pm)

Incredibly sad. The Times article said they believed the suspect was in his 20s…where are they getting that information.

Still unreal to me the shooting at Alki in May was unsolved. Hoards of ppl on the beach and the police haven’t figured it out yet???

WSB September 5, 2017 (8:31 pm)

No, the Times’ short item does NOT have any suspect information (and they weren’t even at the scene, nor did we see any other news organizations during our initial time there or revisits). What their line says is “Police initially said the victim was believed to be a man in his 20s.” Which is also what we reported – because that was both the initial info communicated by medics in radio transmissions, and then in the first SPD Blotter report. There was later scanner talk about relatives showing up looking for a 15-year-old but when we asked police about that at the scene, they said they were still trying to sort the discrepancy out, and they didn’t finally confirm it until this sad news came at day’s end. – TR
- LB September 5, 2017 (9:02 pm)
  
  I know early info on scanner can be incorrect and also sometimes info detectives prefer not be circulated publicly but I turned on the scanner straight away with the sirens and heard a vague description of the suspect. So they have something.
  - WSB September 5, 2017 (9:17 pm)
    
    I can’t know specifically what you are referring to – first thing I heard was first-arrival SFD to incoming medic unit, a few minutes after the AWW dispatch went out – but they did not have a shred of description information for example to share with Guardian One, nor anything later on, and we get the tac frequency as well as the main channels. At one point a resident near that side of the park called police to say they might have seen some people running by around that time but that didn’t seem to pan out. Here’s hoping that someone they have since spoken with might have had something helpful … TR

Mom feelings September 5, 2017 (9:51 pm)

This is the saddest news. Sincere condolences to the victim’s family. Please let us know how we can help.

David Johansson September 5, 2017 (9:52 pm)

Every parent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, friend, need to talk to the youth and teach non violence. Where are the role models? How does anyone wrap their mind around this violence. Come together folks! Enough is enough.

T September 5, 2017 (10:05 pm)

I am so very sorry for this young person and his family. I wish that I could hug all of you. More than anything, I wish my words could bring comfort.

Susie September 5, 2017 (11:25 pm)

This beautiful young man was my student for 2 years in middle school. I just went to see him perform in a poetry slam just a few weeks ago. I am so heart broken. Please keep his family in your thoughts.

Janelle Sosh September 6, 2017 (12:06 am)

I hope the police searched and questioned all the sketchy people that hang out in the woods over there. Our children should feel safe in our parks not hurt or worse.

Gyngersnap September 6, 2017 (10:05 am)

Nothing in the Times this morning. I would feel better if this boy had a name that we could say out loud so he could be respected. The woods at Westcrest Park should be patrolled regularly. Maybe that is already happening , but it is a creepy place.

WSB September 6, 2017 (10:12 am)

We have not heard from any family members, friends, or school contacts – but stand ready to publish any information on how to help the family, remember the victim, etc., if we do. If his ID is made public officially, it would be from the Medical Examiner, and no sooner than this afternoon. – TR

P.S. The newest information from police is here.

Vanessa Eng September 6, 2017 (12:29 pm)

My heart is broken for this kid, his family and everyone who knew him. There are no words to describe the grief of losing someone so young. Lox, you too will be in my thoughts. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for you to see this but we are all grateful to have neighbors like you, who will step in and help when they are needed. Take care of yourself, seek any help you may need to process your trauma and grief and know that you did the world a great service.