Jury deliberations start Tuesday in trial of Edixon Velasquez’s accused killers
(WSB photo, investigators at scene, September 2017)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Following an afternoon of closing arguments, the fate of 2 people accused in the deadly 2017 shooting of Edixon Velasquez is in the hands of the jury.
We were at the courthouse downtown this afternoon as jurors listened to the final pitches from the prosecution and defense lawyers for 23-year-old Anna Kasparova and 21-year-old Abel Linares-Montejo.
They are charged in the 25-year-old victim’s death outside his home in the 8100 block of 31st SW on September 19, 2017.
The three attorneys who presented closing arguments – prosecutor Wyman Yip, Kasparova defense lawyer Suzanne Pickering, and Linares-Montejo defense lawyer Kris Shaw – offered differing scenarios.
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DEVELOPMENT: Site tour for 6318 41st SW; approval for 5616 California
Two project notes:
6318 41ST SW SITE TOUR: Another “early Design Review outreach” meeting – this time, you’re invited to a site tour at 6318 41st SW, 10 am Saturday, December 14th. This is a HALA-upzoned site, where a house is proposed for replacement with a 4-story, 6-unit townhouse building and 3 parking spaces. Project-team members will be there to answer questions and talk about the plan, including the architects from MNMuM Studio, who provided the early-stage rendering above.
5616 CALIFORNIA SW APPROVAL: From today’s Land Use Information Bulletin, land-use approval for this project planned to replace a house with three 3-story townhouse buildings totaling 8 units, as reported here back in August.
(Rendering by Cone Architecture)
One change: The project (just south of C & P Coffee [WSB spomspr]) now has 5 offstreet parking spaces, one more than previously reported. Today’s notice (see it here) opens a window for appeals until December 16th.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Tree thief, and 2 other notes
West Seattle Crime Watch miscellany tonight:
TREE THIEF: Got a call this evening from a Genesee Hill resident whose out-of-town visitors had a rude surprise. They bought a tree to take to Olympia and left it tied atop their car in the driveway overnight. This morning … no tree. Their saddened host wanted to warn everyone about this Grinchy theft.
TWO NOTES: We received a LOT of tips/questions about a full-code SPD response headed northbound around 6 pm. First – we wanted to thank everyone for the tips (text/voice 206-293-6302 any time) as that’s often how we get first word of something. But this time, we heard the dispatch, and as we told everyone who messaged us – it was called in as a possible burglary, west of The Junction, but turned out to be a a false alarm…. Right after that, an incident in The Junction was NOT a false alarm – a shoplifting suspect was caught and arrested near Junction TrueValue at 44th/Edmunds. No other details.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS UPDATES: Saturday Night Market and tree lighting, Sunday cocoa-and-coat drive
(WSB photo from 2018 Night Market)
This time of year, it’s never too soon to start planning your next weekend. And this one is big. Two major reasons to be in The Junction both days (in addition to holiday shopping with your local merchants):
SATURDAY – TREE LIGHTING AND NIGHT MARKET: It’s more than a tree lighting – it’s an afternoon/evening full of music and shopping! The Hometown Holidays Night Market starts at 3 pm in the street on SW Alaska by Junction Plaza Park (42nd SW/SW Alaska), where this slate of music-and-more leads up to the 6 pm tree lighting. Here’s the updated schedue:
3:45 pm – Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor)musicians start playing in the market,then walk on stage
Welcome: West Seattle Junction Association’s Lora Radford
Emcee: Brent Amaker
4:20 pm: Endolyne Children’s Choir
4:45 pm: School of Rock West Seattle
5:15 pm: The Not-Its
5:55 pm: Santa Claus and Jack Menashe take the stage
6:00 pm: Lighting the tree
6:05 pm: Ceremony ends but Night Market continues until 7 pm
SUNDAY – COCOA AND COAT DRIVE: During the Farmers’Market, bring coats, hats, scarves, gloves (gently used) to warm up neighbors in need!
10 am-2 pm Sunday, look for the tent and bins at the south end of the Farmers’ Market (California/Alaska), and along with the warm glow of knowing you’ve done something good, enjoy hot cocoa – with whipped cream and sprinkles available.
UPDATE: Shooting investigation in South Delridge
2:19 PM: Police are investigating a shooting in the 9000 block of 18th SW. They report “one male victim injured.” More as we get it.
2:34 PM: Police tell us at the scene that the victim’s injuries are not life-threatening. The shooting was the result of a robbery somewhere nearby – the victim made it to a construction site and called for help.
3:31 PM: Still no one in custody. No description made public, either.
3:55 PM: A bit more info from SPD: They say the victim is 24 years old and was shot while “delivering an item sold on a secondhand goods website.”
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Alley holdup; Lucky 5 robbery followup
In West Seattle Crime Watch today, two robbery cases from the long weekend:
JUNCTION STREET ROBBERY: Thanks to the tipster who let us know about this incident early Thursday morning. We requested and obtained the report today. It happened around 12:30 am; the victim told police she had used the Chase ATM at California/Oregon and then walked into the alley, where two people approached her. One pointed a “black semi-automatic” handgun at her while the other went through her pockets. They took her phone, car and house keys, and wallet. Description: “about 27 and 29 years old … the male who pointed a gun at her was mixed race – White and Black – and about 5’8 … the male who was with him may have had a hoodie on.” Police searched but did not find the robbers. The victim called later to add one detail: One of the robbers had hit her in the face.
LUCKY 5 ROBBERY FOLLOWUP: We reported briefly last night on the holdup at the Lucky 5 gas station/mini-mart at 35th/Henderson. Today we requested and obtained the report, which has additional details: The robbers were described in the report as “four black males … wearing dark clothing, gloves and masks … At least two of the males were wearing backpacks … teens-20s, 5’7-5’9″.” They assaulted the person working in the store and knocked down displays, scattering merchandise on the floor. One held the worker at gunpoint and demanded that he open the cash drawer; the robbers also started loading their backpacks with cigarettes. One took a necklace from the person on duty, a lifelong keepsake described as gold, with “rectangular chain links, and a thin tiger pendant.” Surveillance video from outside the store shows their getaway vehicle was a “silver four-door sedan” with tinted windows.
FOLLOWUP: Where the plan to save West Seattle’s ‘Stone House’ stands
If you’ve passed by the “Stone House” at 1123 Harbor SW lately, the changes to its facade might have caught your eye – they caught ours. More than nine months have passed since we first reported that the Southwest Seattle Historical Society hoped to save the well-known stone-studded cottage by moving it to a new site, since the one where it’s stood for 90 years had been sold for redevelopment. City records indicate the site’s new owners are continuing to move ahead with their plan, which calls for the demolition of structures on three adjacent lots, but clearly states that the Stone House is to be relocated per agreement with SWSHS. The agreement on file gives SWSHS until the end of the year to move the house off the site. We asked local entrepreneur and preservationist John Bennett, who’s been involved with the plan, about its status. He tells WSB, “We are scouting a location and working out the logistics of physically moving a 90-year-old stone house. This project is being taken on by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society in their ongoing efforts to preserve the history of our great city. … This is a complicated project, but we are determined to save this amazing piece of West Seattle history.”
As for what’s now being displayed on the facade, Bennett explains, “The art on the front of the house is a quick facelift to show everyone that it has not been forgotten.”
BACKSTORY: This 2002 seattlepi.com story has it.
What’s up for your West Seattle Monday
(Varied Thrush, photographed by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LINCOLN PARK WALK: 10 am with Sound Steps. Meet in the center of the north parking lot. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
AGING WELL: Talk about it in a facilitated 1 pm group at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (4217 SW Oregon)
WATERCOLOR CLASS: Taught by Jennifer Carrasco at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6 pm. Contact the artist for enrollment info. (5612 California SW)
PLAYGROUND MEETING: 6:30 pm at Delridge Community Center, see the proposed design for changes at the Cottage Grove playground. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
3 TRIVIA/QUIZ NIGHTS: Your Monday night options in West Seattle:
*Best of Hands Barrelhouse (7500 35th SW), 7 pm, $2/person, 21+
*The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7:30 pm, free, all ages
*Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Oregon), 8 pm, $2/person, 21+
LOOK AHEAD ... via the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar!
YOUTH SPORTS: Signup time for West Seattle Little League
Another reason to think spring! West Seattle Little League has announced that it’s signup time:
Welcome to the 2020 WSLL Spring Season! Registration is now open!
We are excited to have new families join and existing families return. Little League players can be girls & boys between the ages 4-12. The season runs from May – June & kids get a lot of playing time (best value in sports)!
Check out westseattlelittleleague.com for more information including scholarship opportunities. Get in the game!
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