UPDATE: Man shot and killed at gas station in southeast West Seattle (added: victim identified)

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photos)

8:11 PM: SPD and SFD have converged on the 7800 block of Detroit SW – at or near Shree’s Truck Stop – to investigate a reported shooting. The ~50-year-old man who is reported to have been shot is or was in a car – police don’t know yet whether he was shot there, or driven there after being shot elsewhere.

8:14 PM: Police just told dispatch the shooting happened at the scene where the victim was found.

8:16 PM: Officers have just told dispatch the victim has died.

8:49 PM: We are at the scene. Police say no one is in custody and they have no information on suspects. Adding scene photos.

10:32 PM: Police have just posted about this on SPD Blotter but the only new detail is that the victim was 53. If you have any information, they ask that you call 206-233-5000.

NOTE: This is the sixth non-vehicular homicide in West Seattle so far this year, after 15-year-old Mobarak Adam‘s shooting death at Southwest Pool/Teen Center in January, 22-year-old Luis Solis Lara‘s shooting death on Duwamish Head in June, 53-year-old William Tappe‘s beating death in the east Junction area in June, 32-year-old Laupule Talaga‘s shooting death in The Triangle last month, and 57-year-old Tammy Towers Parry‘s shooting death south of The Junction on October 1.

ADDED: We just went through the archives; six was the West Seattle homicide total for all of 2023. And one of those was a deadly shooting at the Delridge Shree’s gas station – the victim was shot there, drove away, and died exiting the West Seattle Bridge.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Police are not releasing any additional information. Today, however, the Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 53-year-old Oton Garcia Ruiz, cause of death “gunshot wound to torso.”

Debbie October 13, 2024 (8:16 pm)

Is this related to all the sirens I’m hearing now? It is a bit south of the Highland Park neighborhood. It went on for about 5 minutes

WSB October 13, 2024 (8:21 pm)

Yes – they initially sent a “scenes of violence” SFD response, which means five units, plus all the police that responded.
- Debbie gallagher October 13, 2024 (8:44 pm)
  
  Thanks! With so many responses, I wondered if it was a domestic violence situation

Alki resident October 13, 2024 (8:35 pm)

Was just saying the other day that I will not go there at nite. It’s a different crowd and it can be a little uncomfortable. Daytime is pretty friendly. This is just terrible. And a bit unnerving.

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy October 13, 2024 (9:55 pm)

There is another Shree’s location on Delridge. It’s closer (to Alki) and less spicy. Though I think the encampment that was near the Shree’s where this shooting happened has felt more tame since the mini encampment nearby disbanded / disappeared / (got cleared?)
22blades October 14, 2024 (2:57 am)

I agree. I used to go there because it was on the way to work & good prices but it had gotten so sketchy even in the daytime at times, I pass it. The nearby encampment would often have an SFD response in progress. Had a guy ask me for a little gas in his can with a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Tired of the BS October 13, 2024 (8:58 pm)

3/4 SPD cars were on 15th going north then made a big U-turn on Webster, Holden. Not sure why they were on 15th Ave SW…

valvashon October 13, 2024 (9:32 pm)

That is one of the skeeziest gas stations I have ever been to in my life. Trying to impersonate a Shell and with a very weird crowd. Not surprised at all that there was a homicide there.

Greg October 13, 2024 (9:49 pm)

Sheree’s are the best truck stops in our area, including this one.
- NotInHolden October 13, 2024 (11:51 pm)
  
  For real, I love Shree’s. Violent people are going to be violent. I’m so sorry for the loss of life and the impact it may have. There is too much violence.
Derp October 13, 2024 (9:59 pm)

It was a Shell station a few years back and they just took the Shell logos and left everything else when the Shell brand left the site. That’s why it kinda looks like a Shell station.
bolo October 13, 2024 (11:17 pm)

A violent death is a tragedy for sure– I offer my sympathies.

Up to last year, when I was driving a diesel vehicle, I would fuel up there as the diesel price was always much less than everywhere else in the area.

Saw some sketchy behavior there nearly every time. Worst one was the two zombies trying to attack each other with broken-off beer bottles in their hands. Then there was the guy constantly there (mostly across the street) in the rickety old blue pickup truck that also just happened to be at or near several theft scenes in the area.

Looks like the excitement there might still be ongoing?

Nate October 13, 2024 (11:49 pm)

I was actually there about 20 minutes ago. I was looking for any info on why it was all taped off. Wanted to get gas. Definitely blocked off and they have a gas tanker that they’re not letting in either.

KD October 14, 2024 (12:31 am)

I usually fill up at that Shree’s once a week around 5:00am and it’s always, always about 90% working folks and mostly the nearby Waste Management employees. Never sketch or weird then even though early morning. I have been there during the daytime sometimes and it’s just plain hardworking folks then too. I know the business blasts opera music outside, that’s an old deterrent used by many businesses mostly to deter high school or young rable rousers crowds from gathering.

Matteo October 14, 2024 (6:01 am)

Agreed. I go there regularly. Working class clientele and the best prices around. I have never felt threatened. No encampments in the area. The biggest was cleared more than 6 months ago. My only complaint is the 24/7 opera music. Sad that another human life has been taken. Everyone’s got guns now, be careful with your interactions.
- KD October 14, 2024 (2:59 pm)
  
  It was a bit sketchier when the closer encampments were nearby and even the line up of stacked up RV’s and vehicles across the street. It was like their backyard at times, but it never was the business itself that caused that. I’m sure they hated the constant drama it made at their business.. one of many who serves folks with gas and commodities, snacks. Seems a lot easier and quieter now. Doubt if the shooting was random, probably a rift with known people.

Jason October 14, 2024 (9:05 am)

Shree’s is great… shame on the people calling this a “shady” place. You guys are insane.

Steve October 14, 2024 (4:19 pm)

Shame on WSB for posting such opinions. They’ve probably never stepped foot inside.
- Ferns October 14, 2024 (7:02 pm)
  
  Get over yourself! Shame yourself, if you must.
- West Seattle Mad Sci Guy October 14, 2024 (7:23 pm)
  
  I’d rather they not be th arbiter of opinions. As long as it fits some general guidelines. Opinion suppression cuts both ways.

Dave October 14, 2024 (9:40 am)

I fuel my comercial vehicle often at Shrees and I like the fuel prices. I would not be blaming the business per se (who are providing a service of sorts) for what happens in their vicinity. It’s a busy “transitional” space and those spaces are always somewhat more sketchy requiring a higher level of alertness.Any time you are in public people should be alert but also in control emotionally. Transitional spaces (stores, parking lots etc) are NOT the place to assert your “personal power” because you never know the story behing the stranger you are interacting with. Dont get into disagreements with unknowns.Anyway, just some thoughts..

Tigby October 15, 2024 (10:41 am)

I can blame the business because I was there. I told them to call the cops and an ambulance for the shot person and they refused. All three of the clerks refused. I had to demand they hand me the phone and even then they didn’t want to give me the address. So you call that good business? I call it sketchy with no regards to Human life.

Kyle October 14, 2024 (11:18 am)

Shree’s is a reputable gas station with good prices and a well stocked store. The gun violence we see is everywhere in West Seattle.

Grilled Cheese October 14, 2024 (3:32 pm)

More guns on the street and in society fuels violence and death. It’s a cancer in this country. The only way to stop the violence is to ban guns completely.

East Coast Cynic October 14, 2024 (9:01 pm)

They’re calling the location of this murder southeast West Seattle, but for all intents and purposes, this area is more like South Park than West Seattle, is it not?

WSB October 14, 2024 (9:04 pm)

No, it’s not. “Southeast West Seattle” is my description for everything roughly south of the Roxbury corridor and Myers Way eastward. SPD chose to call it “Highland Park” but that, it is not. South Park begins on the other side of 509.
KBear October 14, 2024 (9:25 pm)

Why would you like it to be South Park instead of West Seattle?
- Patience October 15, 2024 (7:23 am)
  
  Probably the same mindset that thinks those of us living near South Seattle College or east/southeast of Westwood Village are NOT considered West Seattle

jonathan vogel October 17, 2024 (6:39 pm)

just curious as to why absolutely no attention given to white center shooting the other night. I guess it’s become so commonplace that reporting just looks past it these days.

WSB October 17, 2024 (7:16 pm)

If you mean the car wash shooting, we covered that on our WC site https://whitecenternow.com – the suspect remains in custody, waiting for word from KCPAO on whether he’s been charged yet.