UPDATE: Police standoff at Roxbury Safeway; suspect in custody

11:19 AM: Roxbury Safeway isn’t allowing customers inside right now because of a police standoff. At least eight SPD cars are here (though it’s in KCSO jurisdiction). We’re waiting to talk with police about what happened; employees are going in to work in the south side of the store – the situation, which involved an armed person making threats per an employee, is happening in the north end of the store.

11:31 AM: People showing up to shop are still being told the store’s closed because police are holding the suspect at gunpoint. Employees are clearing out again and an officer with a shield has gone in.

11:49 AM The suspect is in custody. A county fire medic unit has arrived.

1:21 PM: Police have released more information. They say it started “nearby” with “a violent assault involving a female victim” and that he “pulled a knife on the victim and threatened her with violence” while “under the influence of methamphetamine.” He turned up inside the Safeway and when police responded, that’s when the standoff started. They say he was arrested for investigation of “felony assault, harassment, and indecent liberties” and after medical evaluation he’s expected to be booked into jail.

2:40 PM: SPD spokesperson Det. Eric Muñoz just answered our two big remaining questions: #1, despite the store being outside the city limits, this was an SPD call because the original incident happened across the street (9400 block of 27th SW), which is inside the city limits; also, the suspect needed medical attention because he “sustained minor injuries during the arrest; less-than-lethal force was used by officers including a Taser deployment. No other people were injured during the arrest.”

Lisa January 1, 2025 (12:00 pm)

People trying to shop and work amidst all this? Friendly reminder that this level of chaos is not normal or acceptable.

M January 1, 2025 (1:02 pm)

My son was on shift there! It is so very scary to not know if you are going to see your son again after he leaves for work, and he works at Safeway, not a first responder or guard! All I can do is pray 🙏
KT January 1, 2025 (1:08 pm)

Agree it is not acceptable but sadly is becoming the normal in this country with no (mental) health insurance an ever increasing for-profit healthcare system.
Colby January 1, 2025 (2:05 pm)

According to the information in this post by the WSB, customers were being turned away, and not allowed to shop during the incident.
- WSB January 1, 2025 (2:49 pm)
  
  And that I can vouch for firsthand, as I was on site for more than an hour (only reporter there) and both police and employees were yelling at unsuspecting arrivals “STORE’S CLOSED!” (It’s since reopened.) No other injuries reported. I’m still trying to find out from police, however, why it was their call given that it’s outside city limits. UPDATE: I got that info, added above.

K January 1, 2025 (1:14 pm)

Between the robbery a few weeks ago, the Amazon locker vandalism and this, can we admit those “security” units with the blue lights and speakers in the parking lot don’t deter crime and are just a performative waste of perfectly good parking spaces?

Seattlite January 1, 2025 (3:01 pm)

K…What does “deter crime”?
Joe January 1, 2025 (5:24 pm)

Really?…you want us to admit that?…bizarre comment.
Chum January 1, 2025 (8:38 pm)

I don’t know if those installations work, but I live right by the store and there is more than adequate parking.

BDR January 1, 2025 (1:18 pm)

Oh my. Not a great start to the new year. Hopefully the suspect will stay locked away from the public and get some mental health assistance if it is deemed needed. So scary for the employees and customers that were in the store.

Rhonda January 1, 2025 (3:51 pm)

Great job, SPD and KCSO. This is our neighborhood Safeway and keeps Arbor Heights, the Arroyos, Roxhill, Shorewood, and Upper Fauntleroy from being a food desert 🌵

Peter January 1, 2025 (5:35 pm)

I agree 100%. We need that Safeway to be safe & functional.
East Coast Cynic January 1, 2025 (5:51 pm)

That Safeway also serves the deserts of Delridge, White Center, and Highland Park. When I want to use Safeway to take advantage of a sale, I’ll drive to the Alaska Junction one even though I’m closer to the Roxbury one. Too much of that sort of “drama” and too long lines to put up with.
- K January 1, 2025 (6:27 pm)
  
  Really? The Jefferson Square Safeway is gross. I wouldn’t even steal from that store. Also, there’s a Super Saver grocery store at 16th and 107th in White Center. Not a food desert.
  - WSB January 1, 2025 (6:51 pm)
    
    Not to mention multiple other small-to-medium-size grocery stores in WC focused on Asian and Hispanic foods.
    - k January 1, 2025 (7:52 pm)
      
      And a couple great produce stands, the butcher, a couple of Halal markets… a food oasis, if you ask me!
- Jimbo January 1, 2025 (7:02 pm)
  
  Oh, come on stop calling areas around here a desert due to not having a store within a rock throw away. There’s tons of grocery stores in the White Center community and in West Seattle and let’s not forget that there is a QFC right down the street from Safeway. I’m just so happy my young adult child is no longer working at that particular Safeway store and I’m very happy that no employees who work at Safeway have been injured. This Safeway has a lot of pleasant cashier compared to other stores in the area.
  - Rhonda January 1, 2025 (9:55 pm)
    
    Jimbo, the Westwood Village QFC is exactly 1.5 miles from our house here in Arbor Heights. That’s a very long, hilly walk and I’m a runner. The Roxbury Safeway cuts that down by a mile each way.
    - WSB January 1, 2025 (10:52 pm)
      
      The Roxbury Safeway and WWV QFC are less than half a mile apart.
      https://maps.app.goo.gl/DgBExdBxc4eRWKidA
    - Derp January 1, 2025 (10:58 pm)
      
      So how many bags of groceries can you carry while you run.
    - Rhonda January 2, 2025 (1:13 am)
      
      Derp, I once carried two 12-packs of Diet Pepsi from the Roxbury Safeway to our house. 4 plastic grocery bags full of bread, TV dinners, and yogurt is a cinch.
    - K January 3, 2025 (3:36 am)
      
      Didn’t you say you work in Bellevue, though? With that commute, it seems odd to claim the three-block difference between Safeway and QFC is a barrier to getting groceries.
    - Rhonda January 3, 2025 (10:58 pm)
      
      K, I spend 40 hours a week in Bellevue but 124 hours a week in West Seattle. I only pop into the Bellevue Uwajimaya and Factoria T&T once every few weeks.

jim January 1, 2025 (5:15 pm)

When I was young (early 1950s) Arbor Heights had 5 grocery stores (two with butchers), One Doctors office, one drug store, a hardware store, a barber shop, Gas station/mechanic, Real-estate office, volunteer fire station, community hall, a cabinet manufacturing shop, two machine shops and a church. All in this neighborhood, Back then we were far from becoming a desert of any sort unlike now.

Pauline January 1, 2025 (6:12 pm)

I’m glad it all worked out even though it was out of their jurisdictions…now I’m bit worried cause I go here even though there’s a Safeway in the west Seattle junction that’s closer to my home. I like the friendly OG cashiers/workers.

DomesticViolence January 1, 2025 (6:47 pm)

Despite that the initial event took place outside (apparently outside) this is another domestic violence situation. A word of caution.: if someone EVER threatens you with violence…. or is violent towards you, you need to report it and go away from that person permanently. There is no excuse for that type of behavior.. Protect yourself and take it seriously… or you and/or your family could be dead. Run for your life.! do not accept excuses: you are in danger

Joe January 1, 2025 (10:06 pm)

IMO. The food desert refers to affordability. We are a family of three. If we go to any local grocery store we are more than likely to save over $100 a trip if we hop in the car and head to the closest discount grocery store. We drive to Costco, Winco and Grocery Outlet in that order to do our normal grocery shopping. We like to make a day of it either on Saturday or Sunday and also take advantage and fill up the car with way cheaper gas towards the south end. In an emergency we use West Seattle Thriftway , Safeway, and PCC. An additional benefit is that the rural stores are usually less crowded and more easy going. My mother in law was almost knocked over at the Target in Westwood by a shoplifter a while back. I wish we didn’t have to but it really does add up to a better overall shopping experience.

Southside January 2, 2025 (9:14 am)

I’m confused….. I know it’s way after the fact, but employees entering and “going to work” on the south side of the building while this was happening? Why were employees allowed to enter the building at all?

Question Authority January 2, 2025 (11:06 am)

How did a story about a meth induced man assaulting others become a discussion about parking lots and food deserts? This was a story about crime, not shopping habits.