FOLLOWUP: South Delridge stabbing victim likely ‘targeted,’ police say

| Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo: Part of memorial at stabbing scene)

Across Delridge from the scene of Friday night’s deadly stabbing of 34-year-old Michael Abay, the Southwest Precinct’s second-in-command has just provided a short update on the case. Asked to speak to those gathered for a 34th District State Senate candidates’ forum (separate forum story later), Lt. Steve Strand said police believe Abay was “targeted.” He did not comment on why. He also said that while they haven’t identified a suspect yet, he believes they will. Mr. Abay’s death was the third homicide case of the year in West Seattle and police have described all three as “targeted.”

South Delridge gal July 24, 2018 (9:56 pm)

I saw mourners at the memorial when I drove by this afternoon. It was very sad. :-( I will keep an eye out for updates on this case. It’s too close to home. Do you know if the killers of that poor 15 yr old kid found in Westcrest Park were ever convicted? Thank you

WSB July 24, 2018 (10:18 pm)

Still making their way through the justice system.
- South Delridge gal July 25, 2018 (10:04 am)
  
  I’m glad they are no longer on the streets.

ScubaFrog July 25, 2018 (10:58 am)

The tragedy of these murders is beyond scope. I reject any notion that these are gang-related (as claimed by posters in earlier threads). These are murders committed by weak men or women, who’ll eventually face justice. I stand in solidarity with all of our victims, and their families/friends.

heartless July 25, 2018 (11:56 am)

My thoughts go out to the friends and family of Michael Abay.

And yes, Scuba, it frustrates me to an incredible degree that people randomly assign blame to various easy target population. We had someone in another thread blaming, I kid you not, homeless “zombie dopers” for the murder.

I wish peace for those who knew and loved Michael.
- Quora July 25, 2018 (11:09 pm)
  
  Wait, gangs are easy target populations? Can you let me know what planet you live on?
Higlanderparker July 25, 2018 (12:23 pm)

You should have saw the memorial on the street then. it was odd so many people were wearing red. Looked like a gang related memorial. Sorry that someone died but just calling it as i saw it. Im pretty sure I am correct this will come out in the investigation based on the fact that it was targeted. So my guess drug deal gone bad or gang related. Don’t be so naive this area has a worsening gang problem look at all the gang tags and related incidents
- Helenweales July 26, 2018 (12:42 am)
  
  It is very sad indeed, and so heart wrenching for the survivors. Scuba- your denial of the realities of the street don’t really serve anyone, but rather just perpetuate this type of violence. 16th and Cambridge is well known for gang activity and drug sales.
- Brina July 26, 2018 (10:05 am)
  
  We all represented Michael no matter the color of the clothing he didn’t deserve this and the ones who knew him know that just because everybody has or had on red does make it so gang related smh you people just are to much these days let him rest easy somebody took him to soon
  - Unity & LOVE July 27, 2018 (10:13 pm)
    
    Brina & anyone else who is connected to this tragedy…I’ve lit a candle & am sending love & light to ALL of you! I too, saw a memorial at the Walgreen’s parking lot today. I didn’t know Micheal, nor ANYONE related to him, nor anyone at the memorial…and my outsides & their outsides looked nothing alike. But, that wasn’t my focus. Instead of, “minding my own business” & driving away, I approached the scattered group, that was obviously grieving, hurt, confused & angry! (imagine the looks on their faces as this skinny old white woman approached their sacred space!) I asked questions & listened, without judgement & wound up holding a man, I’d never seen before, in my arms, as he sobbed. I spoke to a few more of the friends and family that were gathered & hugged every single one of them! For those few moments, there was ZERO separation! Only unity, loving kindness & compassion for each other! It brought to mind the 1967 song, “Get Together” by the Youngbloods…what I believe is: Fear is the enemy of Love & ONLY love can conquer hate! I also learned they are holding a Fundraising car-wash, tomorrow, near the scene where this beautiful light was extinguished – I think it was either at 15th Ave SW & Cambridge or Delridge & Cambridge. Please be on the look out for them & let’s sow some seeds of unity, compassion & loving kindness! BIG Love!
- mjc July 26, 2018 (11:04 am)
  
  Highlandparker, can you give us facts and references for the increased gang violence in Whitecenter? I’d also like to know where you are seeing gang tags (vs. regular tags). I’m not disagreeing but it would be great to see the evidence to support the claims.
- Onelove July 31, 2018 (9:10 pm)
  
  I know him personally and he was a very good guy

rico July 25, 2018 (12:15 pm)

The likelihood of SPD actually solving this is quite low. It would be interesting to see statistics comparing cities regarding the ability of local PD to solve homicides. Given the huge number of unsolved murders I suspect Seattle is far from a leader in this regard.

WSB July 25, 2018 (12:35 pm)

Caveat that I don’t know how reliable this website is but … googling for highest unsolved murders per capita, Seattle’s not in the top 10.
http://www.newser.com/story/244203/10-cities-with-worst-murder-clearance-rates.html

It refers back to a top 22 list – clunky to navigate but I don’t see Seattle there either
https://247wallst.com/special-report/2017/06/13/cities-where-its-easiest-to-get-away-with-murder

Do you have a link for a “huge” number of unsolved Seattle murders? Last year for example, there were arrests in 2 of the 3 West Seattle 2017 homicides. Can’t speak for the rest of the city since we don’t track other neighborhoods. In 2016, the one WS homicide case turned out not to have been a crime (woman killed partner, apparently self-defense). In 2015, a woman was charged with murdering her boyfriend’s young child; she pleaded guilty in 2016. That was the first West Seattle homicide case in almost two years. Also in 2016, our archives show, police made an arrest in a West Seattle “cold case” murder dating back to 1984. – TR
- WSB July 28, 2018 (4:23 pm)
  
  Correcting myself for the record, as I was just reminded of this while researching something else …
  
  There was a fourth homicide case last year in West Seattle, the beating death in an encampment on the slope over 509. There were arrests in that one too, so that means one unsolved homicide of *four* in WS last year. – TR

JanS July 25, 2018 (1:18 pm)

so…if I wear red, I’m in a gang? Is that the latest? Did you know that red is the preferred color of educators, teachers, to bring attention to their struggle for higher wages? “Wear Red for Ed” is their theme nationwide .Unless you have personal knowledge of the gang culture in this area, unless you have specific info about this stabbing, don’t make assumptions. Let the police do their job. They know far more than you or I do.

Mark Ufkes July 25, 2018 (2:11 pm)

I do appreciate the good work that the WSB does, but the murder in question happened in White Center, one block inside the Seattle line. And I note that the murder was not covered by your White Center Now blog. A better approach to evaluating the number of murders and whether someone has been arrested for the murder would be to contact both the Seattle AND the King County Sheriff (which covers unincorporated White Center) and evaluate these issues using more complete data that focuses on broader neighborhood interests. Compartmentalizing coverage does not tell the complete story to your readers and reduces the importance of dealing with public safety in White Center. Crime and the White Center murder rate (about one murder a year, three in the past year alone) puts thousands of “West Seattle” residents in south Delridge and Highland Park at greater risk than they would be if they lived on the bluff above Alki. Mark Ufkes, White Center resident

WSB July 25, 2018 (2:40 pm)

Thanks, but West Seattle goes to the Roxbury line in that area (following the city boundary). ETA, yes, we know the city limits jog south of Roxbury at Holy Family as well as extensively south at Arbor Heights etc., which too are in WS.
Here July 25, 2018 (5:17 pm)

The one guy in this thread who brought up the murder rate was specifically complaining about SPD, who has no jurisdiction over White Center. I understand your point completely, but the response was Seattle-specific because the complaint was Seattle-specific. FWIW I live on the Seattle side of the line but super close to Downtown White Center (just a couple blocks over from this murder actually) and I don’t feel unsafe in White Center. They certainly have a lower level of police resources than the city and it feels like their solve rate isn’t as good, but there aren’t a huge number of murders here to begin with.

The Point July 25, 2018 (10:01 pm)

RIP

TR July 30, 2018 (8:16 pm)

Michael lived on my street in High Point and he said hi to me often. He was a very caring individual with a good heart. No matter his troubles he did not deserve this. My condolences to his family and friends.

Sorry, comment time is over.