UPDATE: Death investigation at Junction Plaza Park

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(WSB photo)

1:07 PM: Thanks for the tips. A man was found dead this morning on a bench at Junction Plaza Park. SFD was dispatched just after 11:30 am and verified that the man had died; police responded to the scene too. We don’t yet know anything about the circumstances of his death or the discovery of his body, but we’re not seeing any indication of a crime investigation. Official determination of the cause of death will be up to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (whose crew has arrived to take away the man’s body – that’s their van in our photo above).

4:24 PM: SFD says the man was in his early 50s.

ADDED TUESDAY AFTERNOON: According to the KCMEO, he was 52, and died of an unintentional overdose: “Acute drug intoxication including methamphetamine.”

lucy July 1, 2024 (1:49 pm)

Rest in peace. You were someone’s child.

BDJ July 1, 2024 (2:07 pm)

Oh, that is sad. Might be a lot of reasons that caused the death. Still sad for his family.

RLV July 1, 2024 (3:30 pm)

I send love to this person, and to everyone who loves him.

wsEthicist July 1, 2024 (4:42 pm)

I walked by the park around that time and heard bystanders mention the man had been smoking drugs on the bench earlier that morning. Not saying it was fentanyl that was the cause of their demise, although it would be nice if parks weren’t open season for the same.

Meryl July 1, 2024 (5:02 pm)

Very sad. May he rest in peace.

KK July 1, 2024 (7:01 pm)

I truly hope that he was loved in his life and felt compassion from others. My heart breaks for him and I hope that he gets a proper memorial. Absolutely devastating.

Jazmyn Garcia July 1, 2024 (7:05 pm)

my heart goes out to this persons family :( rest in peace.

KWK July 1, 2024 (7:25 pm)

I hope he rests peacefully, my heart goes out to everyone affected. May love be with you all through this troubling time.

Joanne July 1, 2024 (10:34 pm)

Eternal rest sir.

ItsNotaPark July 2, 2024 (8:36 am)

May this person Rest In Peace and I hope this is a wake up call to city officials. What should be an active park for neighbors and visitors is 99% of the time taken over by drug users and people drinking and often fighting. This so called “park” does absolutely nothing to improve quality of life for the neighborhood and actually makes the area feel blighted. I know QFC has issues with park residents stealing from the market, and not essentials to survive. I know the small local businesses in the area would love to see this park shut down. Shutting it down and turning it into a dog park or even building on it would do more for the community than the current state that it is in. It’s sad that the city doesn’t care enough about residents to address the problem. Probably because most immediate neighbors are renters or just small business owners.

anonyme July 2, 2024 (1:13 pm)

The Junction gets a little scarier every time I go. This morning, there was a tall, skinny guy screaming that he was going to kill people (especially black people, using the “n” word). A shop owner peeked out to see what was going on and was physically confronted in a menacing way that included a racist death threat. Twice in the last month I’ve observed groups of people smoking heroin, once in the midst of a busy farmer’s market with kids and strollers passing by. I wonder how long this man lay on that bench before it was determined that he was deceased, only because it’s not uncommon to see unconscious forms lying in that park?

wsres July 2, 2024 (7:06 pm)

Likely it was due to drugs. There is definitely someone dealing near the bus stops and that is nearby Junction Park. I have called into the police twice recently about open drug use at that park and at the bus stops. Any death is sad, but let’s be real about what happens on those benches during the day as others walk by with no action to help them. My help is a phone call to police so hopefully they can get hooked up to addiction help services.

WSB July 2, 2024 (9:00 pm)

Yes, I updated the story earlier today with the cause of death.

Ms. West Seattle July 3, 2024 (3:58 am)

Does anyone know this persons name?

catherine Gregorio July 6, 2024 (10:54 am)

His name was Byron and he was a good person who got lost. We knew each other from a very young age and had challenges in our young lives with our parents who struggled with drugs and alcohol addiction. There were 3 of us who bonded together to get through those days. We laughed, cried and survived together. Burn and I lost touch over the years but I am forever grateful that he was in my life and for every laugh we had together. I’m saddened to hear his cause of death and pray for all suffering from addiction. Rest in peace my dear friend. I wanted people to know a little about this man and that he was loved.

Regina Romero July 6, 2024 (9:55 pm)

Thank you Cathy!!!! We all loved each other and grew up from young children to young adults together, and I wouldn’t have made it through without the 2 of you! He was a great person, friend and support system throughout our youth! He was kind and SO funny!!! I love you, I’m thankful you left some kind words for our dear friend, who we will always love and cherish!!! He was always there for us to get us through the hard times and vice versa…
Lisa Marie July 21, 2024 (8:02 am)

Byron was the funniest sweetest soul. My heart is sad today.😢

Jeanne pena July 20, 2024 (10:05 am)

Byron was my nephew n my heart was broken when I heard the news, he was a very sweet person n yes he could make you laugh when you were sad. I’m so sad because of the way he died alone on a park bench n I know he had a lot on his plate I wish he would have called one of us that loved him so we could help he was way to young but he is now with god no pain no drugs n loved. Rest in peace my sweet nephew n happy birthday today.love your auntie Jeanne

Lisa Marie July 21, 2024 (8:03 am)

Byron made me laugh to tears. He was so sweet. My heart hurts today. 💔

Rich Stimson July 21, 2024 (8:55 am)

I’m Bryons uncle Rich. It is sad to hear of my nephews passing. Growing up, he always made us laugh and remembering his zany antics on imitating characters from In Living Color. Sometimes I laughed so hard I wanted to pee my pants. You will be sorely missed my nephew. Happy Birthday in Heaven dear nephew. Your Aunt Christine loved your picture of the food you made. Always made me hungry. Happy Birthday Bryon. Love uncle Rich and Aunt Christine.

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