CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Here’s what we’ve found out about Burien carjacking suspect arrested in West Seattle

Last Friday, we covered a two-scene West Seattle incident that had started with a carjacking in Burien. The stolen vehicle, the Chevrolet Suburban shown above, had been tracked to Alki; when King County Sheriff’s Office deputies/Burien Police moved in, the driver and an accomplice took off. The driver was arrested at Harbor/Spokane after getting out of the car when it was stopped at the light; the juvenile left inside got behind the wheel and took off, crashing into a semitruck at West Marginal/2nd SW a short time later. The juvenile was taken to the hospital in critical condition and we don’t yet know his status, but we did get information today about the suspect who was arrested. He is 20 years old and in the King County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail; tomorrow is the deadline for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to rush-file charges. According to documents from his bail hearing, he is a White Center resident who got out of jail a year ago after being sentenced for stabbing a mini-mart clerk in the Northgate area. Those documents say he stabbed the clerk twice in November 2021 after being told to leave the mini-mart because he wasn’t wearing a mask (a few TV reports ensued). According to the documents from the 2021 case, police found him because a security-camera image was circulated and officers recognized him from previous contacts; they got a warrant and arrested him at the North Seattle apartment where he was living at the time. After a year in jail, he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to nine months, less time than he had already served, so he was released.

dzag January 3, 2024 (3:58 pm)

That’s an awfully light sentence for stabbing hopefully this time the prosecutors will advocate harder for a longer sentence

Andros January 4, 2024 (6:13 am)

Agreed. The catch and release program doesn’t work, folks.

EVGuy January 3, 2024 (3:59 pm)

Can we give him life in prison now? We really need mandatory minimum sentence laws on everything involving violent crime.

Gatewood88 January 3, 2024 (4:09 pm)

How is stabbing someone multiple times second degree assault rather than attempted murder? I’m really confused by that charge as well as his very low sentence of 9 months…

in agreement January 4, 2024 (9:50 pm)

yes stabbing another human being is definitely attempted murder in any rational part of the world.

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy January 3, 2024 (4:11 pm)

What ever happened to the man who was speeding / driving recklessly and pushed a car into the water with a woman in the vehicle? Was he charged?

WSB January 3, 2024 (5:08 pm)

I mentioned that in the most-commented-stories list, since that incident was on it. To date, not charged. Doesn’t mean he never will be. I check the system a couple times a week, both in that crash and the one under the bridge in which the driver survived but his younger brother in the car did not.

Big Dave January 3, 2024 (4:57 pm)

Model citizens.

WSPK January 3, 2024 (5:52 pm)

Semi-related: I drive by the scene of this accident on my daily commute. There remains a good sized debris pile including a truck body panel, various chunks of metal and plastic, and a tire. Is there not someone responsible for cleaning up after one of these incidents? My guess; depending on the specific location either SDOT or WASHDOT, but neither of them seems to be in any hurry.

WSB January 3, 2024 (6:59 pm)

SDOT’s incident response team was there that night. But maybe some debris remained after the tow(s)? Call 206-684-ROAD to report.
Lola January 4, 2024 (7:18 am)

WSPK, you can go online to report it. For some reason just like the potholes the City Does nothing without these being filled out. It is like there work orders or something. They can’t seem to fix stuff without The Public telling them that There Is A Big Hole in the Middle of the Street Please Come and Fix it. Or there is Garbage from a Car Accident Please come and Clean up the Debris. It is so bizzare anymore.
- bill January 4, 2024 (10:11 am)
  
  Lola, well yes, the city does need the public to report road problems. There is no Office of Driving Around Aimlessly Looking for Road Defects. Find It Fix It reports generally get a response, although sometimes like with debris left over from car crashes the city has to nagged like a recalcitrant teenager to do a complete job.
  - Neighbor January 5, 2024 (11:02 pm)
    
    Public aren’t the only users of roads

CarDriver January 4, 2024 (6:18 am)

WSB. Was there any connection to someone on Alki? Or did they come here randomly?

WSB January 4, 2024 (9:16 am)

No idea, the charging narrative isn’t that granular.

Sillygoose January 4, 2024 (9:27 am)

Is the semi driver okay? That is quite the record for 20 years old. Are they bored? Hold these jerks until complete restitution is paid to the victims. Better yet, Washington State is close to loosing a federal grant for replanting our burned forest, as there are not enough workers to plant saplings. How about taking these boys with so much time and energy to complete this task. They can learn the meaning of labor exhaustion.

WSB January 4, 2024 (10:37 am)

We reported in our story (linked above) the night of the original incident that SFD said the 53-year-old truck driver was checked out and was OK.
Neighbor January 5, 2024 (11:04 pm)

Now we’re talking!! More trees please!

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