FOLLOWUP: Alki shooting victim remembered; community meeting

Three notes today, following last Saturday’s deadly shooting in Alki:

SHOOTING VICTIM: As added to our original report late yesterday, the victim is now identified as 25-year-old Davonté Sanchez. We don’t have information so far on where he lived but there are numerous online references to his time at Kentwood High School, where he was a basketball standout before graduation in 2016. His former coach remembers Mr. Sanchez: “Heart of Gold and an amazing personality. One of the best people I’ve gotten to know and Coach. Graduated 7 years ago and still gets talked about every season. Truly a special person.” A crowdfunding page has been launched for memorial expenses, with the organizer writing, “He touched so many people’s lives; he was truly one of a kind.” (Photo via GoFundMe.com, used with permission)

INVESTIGATION: Still no word of an arrest or any other updates.

COMMUNITY MEETING: Southwest Precinct police are regular guests at the Alki Community Council‘s monthly meeting, and if you’d like to talk about this or other Alki-area issues, the next meeting is tomorrow night (Thursday, May 18th), 7 pm; you can attend at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) or online.

15 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Alki shooting victim remembered; community meeting"

  • West Seattle Resident May 17, 2023 (1:52 pm)

    May you find peace in heaven with your old buddy Paul Johnson. Two people gone too soon due to guns in this city.This has got to stop and should have never happened!

  • Alki Jack May 17, 2023 (2:31 pm)

    I can’t be there because of a previous major commitment. But I would hope that anyone who loves our Alki Community will be there and be a voice for the help we need from the SPD. Change is needed and we need SPD’s help, they are the law enforcement experts that we pay for, hopefully they have a plan. If it’s money for overtime pay, I will start a fund. Don’t let $$$ be the excuse. We as a community will find the funds. 

  • local May 17, 2023 (3:39 pm)

    Sounds like a person who touched a lot of lives. May he rest in peace.

  • AlkiT May 17, 2023 (3:56 pm)

    Very, very sad.  May you rest easy Mr. Sanchez, and may your family find peace and healing.  

  • Charles May 17, 2023 (5:22 pm)

    Man shot near Alki at 6pm.
    Seattle response: close Alki at 10:30pm.
     ???

    • Alki Resident May 17, 2023 (11:43 pm)

      My thoughts exactly!! What is that going to do?! Can we install police cameras near Alki and Harbor Ave with flashing blue lights on them so they are seen by visitors.. More police presence.. I don’t have the answers but closing it at 10:30p isn’t it!! 

      My condolences to Davinté’s friends and family. ❤️

    • Terry May 18, 2023 (6:51 am)

      What do you suggest? Close it at 6?

      • Charles May 18, 2023 (12:37 pm)

        More police, so they can have a continuous presence down there. Its not exactly hard to figure out that as the weather turns nice, more people will head to the beach. Most will want to be chill and have a good time. Some will want to drink, do drugs, fight, steal, and kill. A (larger) police presence would probably help to discourage those in the previous sentence. 

        • on board May 19, 2023 (9:04 am)

          The police were on the scene in minutes. There have been many cases at Alki where the police should have anticipated crowds and trouble, but last Saturday wasn’t really the case.

  • Mike May 17, 2023 (5:30 pm)

    To the family and friends of Davonté, sorry for your loss.  Hopefully someone or more people come forward with information to help put his killer in prison for a long time.

  • Islandgrl May 18, 2023 (10:07 am)

    Davonte was a beautiful soul! His energy was always positive & he had the most contagious laugh & smile!! Davonte, you will truly be missed! I know you & Paul are up there having the best reunion!! Give him the biggest hug from us all!! On behalf of all your Pacific Islander Fam from West Seattle, Auburn, Fairwood, Kent, Bellevue, Burien, & Fife may you Rest in Heavenly Peace ❤️

    • Kimberly Valadez May 20, 2023 (6:52 pm)

      It’s sounds like you lost a dear friend last weekend….my heart goes out to you and his family and loved ones. Truly tragic unnecessary loss of life 

  • SuperAwesome May 18, 2023 (11:59 am)

    My heart aches for this young man.  His life cut short by senseless gun violence. But I ask again, how is there no description of the suspect?  There were multiple eye witnesses.  

    • WSB May 18, 2023 (12:28 pm)

      Police have not released any description(s), if they have them. I usually catch early description info off radio (scanner) exchanges but in the early going of this incident, the transmissions were extraordinarily chaotic as officers and dispatchers attempted to sort out whether they had two victims, multiple scenes, unruly crowds, what roles the two vehicles played in the situation, tried to deal with the traffic, get the medics to the right place, etc. So I never heard a description, aside from what turned out to be unrelated, the teenager arrested for having a gun.

    • CAM May 18, 2023 (6:15 pm)

      Police release a description of the suspect in a crime when they are seeking the public’s help in identifying the perpetrator(s). If they believe that the public at large is at risk they release a warning about a fugitive or someone they are seeking to arrest. They don’t always release descriptions of people accused of doing things and it isn’t always in their interest, or the public’s, to do so. 

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