WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Myers Way victim ID’d; Junction business burglary; home garage break-in

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes:

(WSB photo, Tuesday night)

MYERS WAY VICTIM ID’D: In addition to releasing the Don Armeni shooting victim’s name (reported here Thursday), the King County Medical Examiner’s Office also has publicly identified the man killed at a Myers Way encampment Tuesday. He was 35-year-old Reginald Moore. The Medical Examiner says his cause of death was “gunshot wound to the chest” and that the case is officially ruled homicide – police initially weren’t sure when Moore was found dead with “signs of trauma.” No additional info on the investigation so far. This is now the fifth unsolved shooting death in our area in less than two months.

JUNCTION BUSINESS BURGLARY: Thanks for the tip. The West Seattle Smoke Shop in The Junction had a smash-and-grab burglary overnight:

We went to the shop to find out what happened. They tell us somebody broke the glass to get in around 6 am and stole just one specific item – dozens of disposable vape pens. Security video is under review.

HOME GARAGE BREAK-IN: Reader report from Kira:

We live on 12th Ave SW near SW Henderson in Highland Park and had our garage broken into. A black and red backpack with tools was stolen and a couple of moving boxes with clothes and fabric. There may have been more stolen, we are still reconciling.

SPD report # is 23-909224.

Also James June 2, 2023 (1:29 pm)

One minor clarification as it was explained me, a small business owner, by the police: unless there was somebody physically present at the time of the break-in, the police consider it destruction of private property. If you catch someone attempting to break into your place of business, it’s trespassing. If you catch them breaking in and stealing, it’s burglary. I even had a police officer tell an adjacent business that their employees should not keep anything in their cars and keep the doors unlocked. The best any small business owner can do is keep detailed records of all inventory for their insurance companies. I enjoy having a small business but I’d rather not draw attention to myself for fear of having my livelihood destroyed by people who ain’t no good.

WSB June 2, 2023 (2:13 pm)

No, that is not true. It is burglary. If someone was present, then it’s a ROBBERY. People confuse those two but breaking into a building – whether forcibly or not – and stealing something – whether residence or business or school or … – is burglary. – TR
- Also James June 2, 2023 (2:22 pm)
  
  Thank you for the clarification. Let me revise: if someone is present, then it is a robbery. If it’s a burglary, it is still considered destruction of personal property and small business owners are still left to contend with their insurance to get back on their feet.

Lindsey June 2, 2023 (2:15 pm)

So bizarre. When the quick mart on Delridge was run into by a car, all they took was vape pens there too. 10K worth of damage to the building over some vape pens. So dumb.

Cass June 2, 2023 (2:20 pm)

Junction break-in was before 6 a.m. I discovered it smashed at 5:40 a.m and a man came up to me and told me he discovered it 20 minutes before me.Hope that helps them narrow down the window of time.