40 Replies to "CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Des Moines man arrested in deadly Alki Beach shooting"

• Kersti Muul June 30, 2021 (3:38 pm)

  Excellent.

• Steve June 30, 2021 (3:46 pm)

  Oh he was 19? Guess that rules out the “It’s the legal gun owners faults” comments filling the last thread.

• Alki resident June 30, 2021 (3:51 pm)

  19? Life goals

  • Skeptic June 30, 2021 (11:59 pm)

    Life goal #1 – Not to ever be disrespected in front of my krewe.  Life goal #2 – Spend 30 years at the WSP in Walla Walla for manslaughter or murder 1.

    • Yamaboy July 1, 2021 (9:27 am)

      So true, I feel no sympathy for someone so dumb. Shoot someone over fireworks? They deserve what they get.

• Flo B June 30, 2021 (4:07 pm)

  Curious if any of the people(and victim) involved/detained/arrested were from West Seattle. 

  • WSB June 30, 2021 (10:13 pm)

    As mentioned above, the suspect is from Des Moines. Finally confirmed the victim’s ID via a crowdfunding page; he was from Federal Way. Don’t have names on the three survivors so no idea where they’re from.

    • Frog July 1, 2021 (9:40 am)

      Also curious — was this just a shooting by the arrested perp, or was it a gunfight at the Alki corral, with two or more shooters?  Was the arrested perp the only armed person involved, who shot both the deceased and the survivors, or were there other armed people in the conflicting groups?

• StopCuttingDownTrees June 30, 2021 (4:15 pm)

  EXCELLENT work by SPD!!! Especially under the circumstances police/first responders faced on-scene by the hostile, uncooperative crowd. I hope this arrest brings some comfort to the victim’s family.

• Anne June 30, 2021 (4:53 pm)

  “a dispute over fireworks”???????hope he enjoys a long stay in prison – where he has plenty of time to mull over his idiotic actions, 

• ⛾ June 30, 2021 (5:43 pm)

  Not the least bit surprised at this latest information. 

• MARIANNE June 30, 2021 (5:55 pm)

  What kind of an argument over fireworks?  Maybe one side told the other side that they needed to stop setting off fireworks because they are harmful to animals and those with PTSD?!

  • WSB June 30, 2021 (6:35 pm)

    That is the entirety of the description in the short narrative on the probable-cause document. If and when the suspect is charged, those documents may say more.

  • Jort June 30, 2021 (10:35 pm)

    Yeah, you know, something tells me that PTSD and sensitive animals were not the nature of the confrontation. 

• Just wondering June 30, 2021 (7:49 pm)

  Fireworks?

• CD June 30, 2021 (10:42 pm)

  Sad that a death comes down to something do pathetic. Can people who put themselves in positions like this not see how stupid it is?

• Howard July 1, 2021 (12:12 am)

  King County prosecutor Dan Satterberg, who charged a man with possession of 4 joints at Hempfest, who didn’t charge Officer Ian Birk, I’ll be sure to hold my breath for justice one this one. I’d vote for a blind goat over Satterberg.  

• WS Resident July 1, 2021 (7:27 am)

  Since the shooting a number of comments have been posted saying that to solve Alki Beach problems defund the police and put the money into community services.  I am sympathetic to victims from other areas. Unfortunately many of the people that cause the problems are from other areas as well.  So how does reducing/defunding police in West Seattle/Alki increase funds for community services in Auburn/Federal Way/Bellevue etc? And even if WS residents could get the funds transferred to another city how many and which communities need to be supported and for how long in order to address safety concerns at Alki?  We get visitors from around the state and other states as well.  In order for “community services” to solve our local problem  do we have to wait until everybody in the state is well balanced?  Community services is a nice lofty goal and a cozy buzzword but it will take decades at best and in the meantime we still need laws and enforcement to keep civility until it comes naturally from all involved.  Defend, not defund the police.

  • Nimby420 July 1, 2021 (9:29 am)

    Nobody said that on this board. 

  • Another neighbor July 1, 2021 (9:56 am)

    This is an interesting point. Both Des Moines and Federal Way have public beach areas, so people aren’t choosing to come to Alki solely for beach access. Something else is influencing their decision to gather at Alki. Is the lack of police presence a factor?

  • skeeter July 1, 2021 (10:07 am)

    WS Resident – good post.  You show an insightful understanding of the problem.  Community services might be part of the solution, but you are correct that Seattle can’t start opening community services in Federal Way, Renton, and Yakima.  We’ll need to depend on SPD to enforce Seattle laws within our city limits.  We need to make sure SPD has adequate resources to do their job and keep us safe.  

  • My two cents … July 1, 2021 (12:43 pm)

    Our very own Councilmember Gonzalez who is running for mayor stands by the re-allocation of dollars from the police to social services. Would love to hear the spin on how that direction will reduce the number of incidents of all types along Alki. It’s too bad that our representatives, both Gonzalez and Herbold – who has remained quiet about this, can’t even try to address the situations in their back yards. Maybe if there was a better photo op they would appear. 

    • Mark July 4, 2021 (9:44 am)

      So true on all your points. Voting them out is the only way to correct this. 

• moong July 1, 2021 (8:30 am)

  Anyone surprised? Another ignorant teenager who ruined his life and that of the victim/family. For what, to look hard? This is Seattle bro. Go somewhere else if you wanna be a tough guy.

• Kevin July 1, 2021 (8:36 am)

  Glad they got him. Ridiculous and scary that 19 year olds are walking around with semi automatics. 

  • Matt July 1, 2021 (10:40 am)

    I understand your general point that it’s sad people like this feel they need to carry and use firearms to solve their problems. Just thought I’d point out that the fact that these were semi-automatic weapons is not surprising or inherently more concerning than the fact that the perpetrator had and used firearms at all in this scenario. The alternative to semi-auto handguns are revolvers, and you won’t find many people (law abiding or otherwise) that choose revolvers for self-defense. I know that when some hear “semi-auto” their minds immediately go to their long arm rifle cousins that are often in the news and are misunderstood. Semi-automatics are the standard in gun ownership, and revolvers, pump action shotguns, bolt-action rifles, etc. are typically only employed by hobbyists at the shooting range. Many people confuse the concept of “semi-automatic” with that of “fully-automatic” (which are essentially illegal for private ownership without jumping through a ton of hoops). Semi-auto means 1 trigger pull = 1 bullet fired. The time savings vs. a revolver or pump-action is in the reload before the next trigger pull. Magazine sizes are also a difference, and I understand why some seek to legislate that capacity.

• Semis for professionals only July 1, 2021 (11:23 am)

  @Matt – The “time savings” = more shots available to fire more quickly with semi-automatic.  All firearms are lethal weapons.  Semi-automatic have greater potential to be more lethal.  Magazine capacity is another factor that increases the potential for a gun to be lethal.  If semi-automatics are “the standard” in gun ownership as you state, that is the central problem in my view about legal gun ownership.  The standard gun owner has weapons with too much potential to be lethal outside of a firing range. (https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/9/2/151). Let’s get state and national gun laws back to revolvers, pump action shotguns, bolt-action rifles as the guns for self-protection, hobbyists and hunters.  Semi-automatics are not needed for individuals who are not professionals in a legal well regulated militia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_v._Heller

  • Matt July 1, 2021 (12:11 pm)

    Interesting take, and I understand your position on the matter.  Curious to hear how you propose such a curtailing of ownership rights would be implemented since semi-autos have been available for purchase since 1903.  As mentioned, hunters and hobbyists have legal use cases for them.  How do you handle that?  Would they be required to turn them in?  Do you think they will mostly comply? There are 300 million privately owned firearms in the US, and a huge percentage of those are semi-automatic.  We often hear the pro-legislation side say “nobody is going to take your guns away,” but the reality is many do push for such solutions.

    • SEMIS FOR PROFESSIONALS ONLY July 1, 2021 (4:20 pm)

      @Matt.  Yes, I would applaud legislation that banned semi-automatic weapons and certain kinds of ammunition, such as those designed to increase the damage to the target like dum dums and hollow point bullets.  I would also encourage a buy back program as well as limitations on manufacturing, importing and availability of semi-automatic weapons in general.  I agree that there are more than 300 million firearms in the United States owned by roughly 70-80 million individuals compared to roughly 250 million in the United States that do not own a firearm.  If removing semi-automatics reduces the number of guns down to 150 million or less and increases gun owners to 100 million I would be fine with that.  I don’t mind private gun ownership.  I don’t like the increase in death and injuries that are caused by semi-automatic guns and bullets specially designed to increase damage to the target.

      • Rhonda July 1, 2021 (7:26 pm)

        You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.

  • StopCuttingDownTrees July 1, 2021 (12:18 pm)

    Almost every handgun owner owns a semi-auto pistol these days. The best-selling pistol for the past 30 years has been the Glock 19 and it’s always been the number-one choice for first-time gun buyers. Revolvers have become near-obsolete speciality guns for large-cartridge enthusiasts, big-game handgun hunters, western culture buffs, collectors, etc. Suggesting that the vast majority of gun owners not be allowed to own them is ridiculous. Small revolvers are illegal in the gun control Mecca of Canada but medium and large semi-auto pistols are legal there. The Supreme Court ruled in Heller vs D.C. that modern, semi-automatic Firearms are “commonly-owned weapons” and not subject to exclusion. All Firearms are dangerous in the hands of criminals, as was seen Monday night.

• Smooth July 1, 2021 (1:47 pm)

  Could not their disagreement been solved without a weapon (or weapons) present? Back in the day, people had to come to resolution without firearms. It worked then; it can work again. It’ll take a village (and more) to make it happen.

  • Rhonda July 1, 2021 (2:54 pm)

    “Back in the day”? What day? I’ve lived here for over 3 decades and there have been shootings after fights at Alki most of those years. People are killed by fists every day. There’s NO acceptable form of violence.

    • heartless July 2, 2021 (9:30 pm)

      “People are killed by fists every day.”

      Mostly by fists wrapped around the grip of a gun, though.

      I mean, seriously, you’re out here trying to argue that the number of people being punched to death is in any way equivalent to the number of gun deaths?

      You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.

• scubafrog July 1, 2021 (3:25 pm)

  30 year olds present, and I AM my brothers’ keeper – how did the elders let this get out of hand?  Unless they, at 30, were a part of 19-22yo drama, which would be pathetic beyond words – because we have to effect change for the ignorant youth.  30yo’s, knowing a young hothead in your group’s acting bad, and he’s armed:  Physically remove him, do ANYTHING, to save them from themselves, and save a life.

• Number 41 July 1, 2021 (5:11 pm)

  The second amendments purpose, is to defend our citizenry’s right to defend itself against any sort of totalitarianism or oppression of any government. (Minutemen that can act, or defend any area, before an army can be deployed or even activated) Yes, contrary to many people’s belief that it’s about hobbies or hunting. It is about civil defense of how we as a collective want to live as hopefully a society that has a right to pursue happiness. (the purpose of the constitution) (the right endowed by our creator or other)The framers of the constitution never wanted to see our experimental republic, with three branches, and separate states. (a modified democracy called a representative republic not a representative democracy) fall into a disrepair that would end up being worse than the oppression under George III. Why don’t we just print the queen on our money, or adopt the euro… tax the people 70-80% and say that everything is free. This kid had an illegally acquired  gun (to young to possess), carried it loaded in a vehicle, carried it concealed without a permit, brandish it, shot it illegally inside the city limits,  fired it with the intent of bodily harm on 3 person, murdered a person…..  how many more gun laws do you think can stop stupidity, take away the 2nd amendment, or re-enact the death penalty,  so some future criminals can make the link between their ass, and their brain. Enforce all the laws we have, not just the one’s that are trendy at some groups political whimsy. Stop letting them buy your vote. Stop letting them divide us into little subgroups, Vote tough! Vote heartily with your brain, not just your heart. Vote for what’s good for all groups!  Develop some critical and analytical opinions, philosophical approaches to technical problems. Are we really believing the, we are making a kinder, gentler society!?!  Or just a mob !  Because all I’m seeing is angry mobs. We have all of human history, This redistribution of wealth is trickery that we thought!Beyond two party politics

  • Desiree Shives July 3, 2021 (8:55 am)

    Thank you for sharing yourself, for lighting up the truth, your statement is a true heartfelt Inspiration, the ideal that there is a path to a better future among the ignorance, chaos and pain of gun violence and murder. I felt your words so strongly guiding me towards your “side”. Truthfully I haven’t seen any side that is not pointing fingers or looking for fault in others, instead yours is taking our power, our pain, our purpose for greater good,  our desire to Pursue happiness & using our rights to vote and our Brains to make thoughtful decisions for the greater good if all! If only more people saw things your way Thank you 

• Todd July 1, 2021 (6:59 pm)

  Let’s go to have a good time at the beach but be sure and bring your handguns in case someone disrespects us and we have to shoot them in the face? Odd thinking.

  • James July 2, 2021 (12:48 pm)

    Not odd thinking, just an unfortunate way of life for some people.

  • Ws prayers July 3, 2021 (10:29 am)

    Odd thinking is glamorized “thug” culture. This is promoted it is popular thro media -music- despite race and socio-economic status. Altho the gap of those that have and have not and those that have to fight harder because of how they look or where there were raised is evident thro data and commen sense. But one thing is for sure this odd thinking is no doubt promtoting life is disposal do what feels good despite its consequences Its a very disturbing reality dont believe me? I can lend you a youth for a week you can hear the music you can experience the disrespect the battle i.endure and have endured well mine is 19 so 9 years. Its absolutly not odd to them ans thats what i beleive makes it oddly terrifying 

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