UPDATE: Police officer shoots, kills man outside Southwest Precinct (updated Friday)

12:23 PM: Developing story at the Southwest Precinct: According to emergency radio, officers were dealing with a man armed with a knife in the Southwest Precinct lot, after a report of a possibly suicidal man in the area. They were trying to get the man under control with a non-lethal “40,” but reported that he continued to approach them with the knife, and they shot him, calling “officer-involved shooting” over the air. Medics are on their way.

(Added: WSB photos)

12:28 PM: Police told dispatch that no officers are hurt. … Over SFD radio, responders describe the man who was shot as about 30 years old, with three gunshot wounds, now getting CPR.

12:33 PM: Officers have told dispatch that SW Webster is being blocked at Delridge (that’s the main street for access to the precinct).

12:45 PM: WSB’s Anne Higuera at the scene reports that the medic unit with the man who was shot has left, with lights but not a siren. The perimeter to keep media and community members has been moved further back, too.

12:59 PM: We’ve confirmed that new Police Chief Shon Barnes has arrived at the scene. He was just at thr precinct last night for what turned out to be his first Seattle community meeting (WSB coverage here).

1:33 PM: In our photo above are CSI detectives who just arrived at the scene. A few moments after our photo, they put up a tarp blocking that view. No confirmation yet of whether the man survived – nor whether he was indeed in the medic unit that left. SPD promises an eventual media briefing at the scene.

2:13 PM: The chief has just finished briefing media. He says the man has died. We’ll add the briefing video upon return to HQ.

2:40 PM: Above is our video of Chief Barnes’s seven-minute briefing, including Q&A (added: he confirmed, in response to our question, that this happened in the secure area of the precinct lot, where the department vehicles are parked, but didn’t know how the man got in). The only other notable update besides the confirmation that the man was killed is that the shots were fired by one officer. (SPD also has posted to its Blotter website, noting something else the chief said, that per department policy, video from the incident will be released within 72 hours.)

4:11 PM: A reader called to point out that SW Webster is still closed at Delridge.

ADDED 3:38 PM FRIDAY: The King County Medical Examiner identifies the man who was killed as 36-year-old Urban A. Seay. Cause of death is listed as “multiple gunshot wounds” and ruled “homicide” (which means a person was killed, not necessarily that it was decreed a crime).

4:39 PM FRIDAY: SPD meantime has released video from the incident. Here’s the direct link; we’re also writing a separate story.

132 Replies to "UPDATE: Police officer shoots, kills man outside Southwest Precinct (updated Friday)"

  • Cammie March 19, 2025 (12:28 pm)

    Within the last five minutes I was driving northbound on 35th south of Holden, two separate police vehicles passed driving faster than I’ve ever seen down the turn lane, I knew it was something very significant. Just now saw both medic and firetruck on the way to the scene

  • Amy March 19, 2025 (12:32 pm)

    Heard 3 shots from the Sylvan Ridge area. Oh-you said that in your story. 

  • Juanita March 19, 2025 (12:41 pm)

    Sooo…why weren’t tasers deployed?  I get that they couldn’t bring him down with non-lethal rounds, but electricity has a way of just dropping you.  And why was he shot 3x?  Not trying to be sarcastic, really just want to understand procedure.

    • No expert, but... March 19, 2025 (12:57 pm)

      I’m not an expert, but have watched an unhealthy amount of police bodycam footage. As for tasers, they don’t always work and can just agitate someone more. When someone is armed with a deadly weapon, it’s the policy for most departments to draw lethal weapons as well. As for the 3 shots, when you’re pumped full of adrenaline you can keep going after being shot once. If the suspect tried to rush and act like they were going to stab an officer, they have to neutralize the threat. There will be body cam footage that will come from this at some point, so it won’t be right to judge them until that footage has been released.

      • Cammie March 19, 2025 (1:07 pm)

        Precisely

      • Elton March 19, 2025 (1:49 pm)

        It may sound like bringing a knife to a gunfight is an unfair disadvantage, but definitely wouldn’t underestimate the threat of someone wielding a knife. Though obviously a knife isn’t a scalable tool for harm, it can cause a lot of damage to one/few people very quickly.

      • Sixbuck March 20, 2025 (8:33 am)

        Actually, it is called the failure drill. Two to the body, one to the head. That’s what they used to and probably do still teach at the police academy. Taught repeatedly at the range, and was, maybe still is, a significant part of yearly firearm qualification. 

    • Marina March 19, 2025 (1:03 pm)

      If .40 caliber rounds couldn’t stop him, I doubt a taser could. 

      • Flash March 19, 2025 (2:14 pm)

        The “40” in this case is a less than lethal 40 millimeter grenade bean bag round used for situations like this. Like the taser, it can be an effective tool, but doesn’t always work. 

    • EJ March 19, 2025 (1:12 pm)

      This is standard procedure. You don’t shoot once and wait to see if they’re incapacitated before shooting more.

    • Anne March 19, 2025 (1:15 pm)

      Sure you are. Maybe wait a tick-for full report to come out? Or would you not believe what it said?Love folks who jump all over police within minutes of something happening-questioning actions with no context-no full report. 

      • WS98 March 19, 2025 (3:45 pm)

        @Anne, My interpretation of Juanita‘s question isn’t that she’s jumping all over the police, but instead  wondering how situations like this are handled. I was actually wondering the same thing. :)

    • Ex-Westwood Resident March 19, 2025 (1:20 pm)

      I’d be happy to answer your questions about procedures.

      Non-Lethal

      “Pepper Spray” or its official name, Oleoresin Capsicum spray, is NOT 100% effective and a person can build up a tolerance to it.

      Tasers are effective about 50%, or less of the time. There is a myriad of factors that will determine if a taser will work; body composition (weight, body mass, size…etc.) clothing (bulky clothing/heavy jackets/LEATHER jackets will STOP the probes from reaching the skin), some just have a high resistance to electricity. It isn’t like TV shows where a person gets hit with a taser and they drop 100% of the time.

      Lethal

      Why three shots? LEO’s are trained to shoot “center mass” until the threat is over. The most common training method when employing a firearm is two shots, center mass, assess the threat, two more shots, assess…rinse, repeat until the threat is OVER. Either the person drops the weapon, gives up, or ceases movement and officers can approach to disarm the threat.

      Officers are NOT trained to shoot the weapon out of hands or shoot the leg like they do on TV. They are trained to shoot “CENTER MASS” whether that “mass” is torso/head/legs….and KEEP firing until the threat to the officer/public is OVER.

       Multiple officers will result in multiple shots; each officer can shoot until the threat is OVER.

      Remember, LEOs CAN and WILL step up the weapon level, IWO, if a perp is approaching with a club or knife, after being told to STOP and DROP the weapon – if it made sense to do so, I’m NOT going to use the “nightstick” or non-lethal but going right to lethal.

      Sincerely,

      A Federal Law Enforcement Officer

      • D-Mom March 19, 2025 (3:47 pm)

        Thank you for that detailed explanation. I wondered too and found this very helpful. 

      • Lorie March 20, 2025 (5:38 pm)

        Thank you for the information. I’ve wondered many times why police choose to shoot instead of taser, but had never considered that something as simple as bulky clothing would keep it from being effective. Learned something new!

    • Mel March 19, 2025 (1:30 pm)

      You don’t use a taser on someone close enough with a knife. Too much potential for them to not deploy properly, not connect to the person properly and therefore not work.

    • Dp March 19, 2025 (2:28 pm)

      Tasers work at close distance. With the suspect having a knife they couldn’t get close

    • softy March 19, 2025 (2:36 pm)

      Police are trained to shoot to kill. That’s why he was shot 3 times. 

      • Bob March 19, 2025 (3:42 pm)

        Police are not trained to “shoot to kill.” In the 1950’s maybe. They’re trained to shoot to stop. They keep shooting until the threat is diminished, whether that’s one round or 10. They shoot for the center of the chest because that means they’re more likely to hit something…anything…and get some effect. 

    • WTf March 19, 2025 (3:03 pm)

      Oh, not this question AGAIN. 

    • Rhonda March 19, 2025 (3:25 pm)

      Juanita, I’m only 5′ 2″ and 103 pounds and I’ve been tased several times while calm and rational. It didn’t knock me down. If you add aggression, adrenaline, large body size, drugs/alcohol, male testosterone, rage, etc, tasers often have little-to-no effects, or worse, increases the suspect’s aggressive actions.

      • Just wondering.. March 19, 2025 (5:06 pm)

        Rhonda why have you been tased several times? Is this by choice?

        • Rhonda March 19, 2025 (6:24 pm)

          Training/demonstration. 

          • Cw March 20, 2025 (6:34 am)

            Woah. You’re tough. Tasers aren’t child’s play 

          • Rhonda March 20, 2025 (2:18 pm)

            I was a lot younger then.

    • Bob March 19, 2025 (3:34 pm)

      None of the less lethal stuff is 100% reliable in all situations. The TASER is a great tool if the person is bare chested or wearing a light shirt. If he was wearing a heavy jacket the probes don’t make good contact, making a bean bag or other 40mm projectile the better choice.  

    • LISA March 20, 2025 (4:07 pm)

      Police and good Samaritans have to be aware of * Exciteable Delirium* a state of mania where gunshots cant even bring down some people. They shrug off tasers and are so enraged they are invincible.There is a case where a naked rampaging man was shot by several police officers and didn’t phase him and he went on to break in half a 6ft wooden fence, other rampager couldn’t be held down by 4 officers, he crawled away with 4 officers on his back. This doesn’t happen much, thankfully, but b4 running in stop rampaging folks, make sure what you are getting into…

      • CAM March 21, 2025 (11:04 pm)

        What they should be aware of is what a garbage term “excited” delirium is. It’s a made up term by people who don’t know what they’re talking about. 

  • Doug March 19, 2025 (1:14 pm)

    Seems like this would have been the perfect time to employ training SPD receives as well as the Crisis Response Team taxpayers pay for. Nope, just shoot the person 3 times dealing with mental health issues. Might as well stop the unit if it isn’t being used for the very thing it was created for. 

      • Overseer March 19, 2025 (1:32 pm)

        I love it KT! 

        • Jackie March 19, 2025 (1:55 pm)

          X2 KT!!

      • KT March 19, 2025 (3:17 pm)

        Your comment makes this KT proud

      • Nolan March 19, 2025 (11:31 pm)

        SPD cannot hold itself accountable and the city council refuses to. Why would you think that one person could succeed where the organization itself has failed?

      • Doug March 20, 2025 (9:29 am)

        Wow. What a great response and so helpful. How about reading comprehension for yourself. I said employee the training necessary and that we pay for. That’s not my job. My job was 20 years dropping combat equipment and soldiers into Afghanistan for 20 years. So, unless you can say anything about anything, sit down. 

    • WSB March 19, 2025 (1:21 pm)

      Of note, this happened very fast. I listen to multiple emergency radio feeds and one is lagged by a minute or two, replicating part of another, so I hear many things twice. The dispatch had barely come out about a possibly suicidal man in the Home Depot area when officers radioed that there was a man with a knife outside the precinct (which, for those who don’t know, is adjacent to HD). Even after the shooting, officers were trying to determine if indeed it was the same man.

    • ltfd March 19, 2025 (1:31 pm)

      All law enforcement officers in Washington State are trained in mental health, crisis intervention, and deescalation techniques. While those methodologies are attempted, sidearms will be drawn when the person in crisis is utilizing a weapon. Also, I don’t believe the new “Crisis Team” is dispatched to scenes involving violence with weapons present.

      • Rhonda March 19, 2025 (3:38 pm)

        You are correct, Itfd. Crisis Teams are only deployed when there’s no obvious or potential risk of violence. 

    • Mel March 19, 2025 (1:31 pm)

      And then when they don’t act quickly and the person stabs a civilian near Home Depot, people like you will complain they didn’t act fast enough. They have an impossible job.

      • EJ March 19, 2025 (1:59 pm)

        🎯

    • Robert March 19, 2025 (1:33 pm)

      Ya…send unarmed “counselors” to a mental person with a knife. 👍 And yes…should absolutely not have them anymore.

    • Good lord March 19, 2025 (1:41 pm)

      Yes because waiting for a social worker to arrive to help deescalate a man who is threatening someone with knife totally makes sense. “Sir, please just hold that thought while we call Lisa in our crisis response team. It will just take a few hours.” Good lord.

      • RickB March 19, 2025 (4:52 pm)

        Love the casual stereotyping. You’re probably one of those people who thinks every woman in a hospital is a nurse, right?

        • JM March 19, 2025 (7:44 pm)

          RickB:    You gotta be kidding.  that is what you stopped to comment on?? 

          • Matt March 20, 2025 (7:20 am)

            If the sentence had been “while we call Mark” I wonder if RickB would have said, “love the casual sexism, like women can’t do the job just as well”

        • Josh March 20, 2025 (8:58 am)

          I am a male nurse, we work very closely with Social Work. I my 20+ years I have met 1 male social worker and can think of at least 40 female social workers. I suspect that field is even more predominantly female than nursing. I have only ever worked with 2 Lisa social workers but I think it’s a fair word choice all things considered. 

    • Delridge March 19, 2025 (1:54 pm)

      Doug, sounds like you were there and know exactly what happened. If not…

  • balderdash March 19, 2025 (1:16 pm)

    I’ve always been in favor of a net, ala spider man, for knife wielders. Slow ’em down, confuse them, tie them all up.

    • CARGUY March 19, 2025 (2:12 pm)

      No idea if its feasible or practical. But I like the sounds of this.

    • Bill#1 March 19, 2025 (2:38 pm)

      Do you have one in your back pocket?

      • Balderdash March 19, 2025 (5:46 pm)

        I was thinking more along the line of an umbrella looking sidepiece, short style that you shoot a net out from. No more crazy than shooting a taser set of wires. It would take some development, but avoid these sort of scenes. you are stopping a guy armed with a knife.

  • I love safety March 19, 2025 (2:13 pm)

    Think about this: a guy with a weapon came to the place where these men and women work as police officers, to kill police. Think now. If someone came to your place of work with a weapon to kill you, it would be a ‘big deal,’ right? Our police are literally attacked every day. They are trying to keep men like the one neutralized here from going to YOUR place of work, YOUR home, and maintaining law and order. We need A LOT more police and A LOT more support for our brave men and women who chose to serve us as police and we need this now.

    • k March 19, 2025 (3:14 pm)

      It sounds like a man who wanted to die went to the place where he knew someone would kill him.  That’s about as orderly as it gets.  Hiring a bunch more cops wouldn’t have done anything except maybe killed him faster.  

      • Derek March 19, 2025 (4:23 pm)

        So many presumptions here, K. The only info we have is from the cops. We have no non-cop info.

      • CAM March 19, 2025 (4:43 pm)

        Thanks k. Everyone seems to be missing the point. 

    • You're disgusting March 19, 2025 (4:48 pm)

      All of the comments praising the officer for taking lethal action (including this one)… do you not realize the deceased was most likely having a mental health crisis and literally went to the precinct knowing there was a high likelihood this would be the result? This is a classic case of suicide-by-cop. I highly doubt he went there just to “kill police”. They (the police) should have called for medics to transport the individual to the ER for a psych eval. If you didn’t get that from this tragedy, you’re so blinded by your adoration for LEOs that you don’t see people literally use them as method for suicide. It is so ironic that your name is “I Love Safety”…. what about the safety of this individual? Your comment is the EXACT reason why we need less officers and more crisis responders that aren’t so trigger happy.

      • wscommuter March 19, 2025 (6:27 pm)

        Your comment is breathtaking in its stupidity.  When a person has a deadly weapon in hand, brandishing the weapon in a threatening manner and refuses orders to either stop or put the weapon down and instead chooses to go at the police, the only option left is force sufficient to stop that person.  Others above have correctly pointed out that less-than-lethal force is not safe in that situation.  This may well have been either suicide-by-cop or a mentally ill person who would not stop.  But either way, the police were put in the impossible position of having to shoot this person.  It is tragic, but there was no other option available.  You either don’t want to face those facts, or you have a ridiculous idea that police should open themselves to deadly assault under these circumstances.  Which either makes you a fool, or to use your own word, disgusting.  

        • WSzombie March 20, 2025 (4:35 am)

          There couldn’t have been a better response to such an absurd post. This person lives in such a secure and isolated bubble that obscures them from reality. I beg you, if you have as an open of a mind as you tell all your friends you do, go for a ride-a-long with the police. It’s something they offer. You’ll realize it’s a horrible job. Nobody appreciates you, you’re underpaid, and put your life at risk every time you clock in for work. Your naivety, ignorance, and lack of self awareness are why you call others disgusting. It’s unfortunate you feel the need to point fingers when you should assess who you are before judging others. 

      • Balderdash March 20, 2025 (8:39 am)

        Crisis responders aren’t sent out for deadly weapon incidents from what i understand.

      • West Seattle Dude March 20, 2025 (3:41 pm)

        So because this guy is having a crisis and came to a station to kill cops, the cops should risk not going home to their families?  Do you know how traumatic it is to kill someone? Even if justified? I do, in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It’s horrible.  This officer will carry the weight for the rest of their lives.  But they will go home and tuck their kid into bed tonight as well. I am so sick of the majority of this city siding with the criminals.  Law abiding citizens and first responders have rights too.   

        • k March 20, 2025 (4:46 pm)

          He was there to be killed by cops, not to kill one.  

          • CarDriver March 20, 2025 (5:13 pm)

            K. So you fully support the actions of SPD, correct?

        • ltmmgm March 20, 2025 (4:47 pm)

          @WestSeattle Dude, Thank you for your comment and most importantly your service! 🇺🇸 

  • Amy March 19, 2025 (3:16 pm)

    Have we not read that a possible suicidal man with a weapon? I lived around the corner from the suicide by cop down on admiral way years ago I’m sorry this happened but at the same time if someone is in a state of crisis like that can be to chicken to do it themselves so that’s a proven way to get it done it’s just sorry that person didn’t feel like could get the help they needed and even more sad that no one around them could see the deterioration 

    • CAM March 19, 2025 (4:41 pm)

      Let’s not call someone afraid to kill themselves “too chicken.”

    • WestSeaResident March 20, 2025 (4:04 pm)

      and even more sad that no one around them could see the deterioration” <- there is something fundementally wrong/broken inside of you if you think you have the right to make a judgement and comment on what was going on in this persons life and the people around them didn’t see or try to help the person during the period they were going through this.You make this comment in such a throwaway manner that you probably cast judgement on everyone you see based on how you view the world and not based on an actual understanding of what is or was going on in someones life.Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself what has happened throughout your life that you would be in a position to type that out and hit send.

  • Juanita March 19, 2025 (3:27 pm)

    And again, not blaming the cops.  Glad they are OK.  And yes, I understand shooting for center mass and yes, I understand that tasers don’t always work and yes, I understand neither do non lethal rounds, especially if someone is out of their mind on something or has some other issue.  Have several friends who are/were cops but none of them are from here, so was asking what the procedure is HERE.  So please don’t assume I’m not cop friendly and don’t appreciate the job that they do.  

  • Jake March 19, 2025 (3:30 pm)

    So the cops get to just kill citizens? I really hope the blog demands body cam footage and doesn’t just take the police’s word on everything.

    • WSB March 19, 2025 (3:51 pm)

      As noted in the story, they have a policy of releasing body-cam video within 72 hours.

    • CarDriver March 19, 2025 (4:33 pm)

      Jake. Clearly your sympathies aren’t with law enforcement. What do you say to the victims of crime? Get over it?? And if there are mental health issues, what are YOU doing about it?  Other than complaining “someone else” isn’t helping them.

      • Foop March 20, 2025 (8:24 am)

        Due process matters, cops don’t get to be judge, jury, executioner. Bullets are not a replacement for therapy despite how many WSB commenters might want it to be so.

      • Lauren March 20, 2025 (8:51 am)

        Why should our sympathies be with law enforcement? They killed a young man having a mental health crisis. And yeah, I know, he had a knife. I don’t care. They shot him three times. They killed a member of our community. 

        • Blondie March 20, 2025 (5:13 pm)

          Lauren,I guarantee if you saw this man in the home depot parking lot and he approached you, you wouldn’t have considered him a member of the community when you had to run for your life.I agree that it should be investigated as every death should be, but it makes me sick how disrespectful people are to the police when all they do is protect us.

  • Pete March 19, 2025 (3:56 pm)

    I don’t think anyone is suggesting that disarming someone with a knife if an easy job, but perhaps our approach is flawed

    .”Knife violence is a big problem in England, yet British police have fatally shot only one person wielding a knife since 2008 – a hostage-taker. By comparison, calculations based on data compiled by fatalencounters.org and the Washington Post show that US police have fatally shot more than 575 people allegedly wielding blades and othersuch weapons just in the years since 2013.”https://theconversation.com/why-do-american-cops-kill-so-many-compared-to-european-cops-49696

    • Ava March 19, 2025 (4:22 pm)

      Thank you Pete for the links. Our approach is very flawed indeed. 

      • Christopher B. March 19, 2025 (9:16 pm)

        What’s truly flawed is that our lack of an effective mental health system means that too often the issue of people in crisis unfairly defaults to law enforcement officers to deal with, putting them in close proximity to violence/danger in the process.

    • Rhonda March 19, 2025 (4:24 pm)

      Pete, UK police often have no choice but to helplessly stand by while innocent people are stabbed by attackers. USA police actively protect innocent life. Attacks on UK police are increasing at an alarming rate: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4grg0m085po

      • Pete March 19, 2025 (6:48 pm)

        That article isn’t about knife incidents involving people in crisis, it’s about an unfortunate rise in assaults on officers. So not terribly relevant.

  • Lauren March 19, 2025 (4:06 pm)

    Please remember that this was someone in our communities husband and father who suffered from a mental health crisis… please stop speculating and dropping mean comments. How would you feel to read this if you were their spouse or relative. 

    • Pete March 19, 2025 (5:38 pm)

      Mental health crises can happen to anyone. I wish people would realise this. 

    • otherlauren March 19, 2025 (6:36 pm)

      Did they release the name of the person who died? It’s so sad and terrible, for all involved.

      • WSB March 19, 2025 (7:43 pm)

        Unless family has done so somewhere public (social media, GoFundMe, etc.), the man’s name has not been published. It is up to the Medical Examiner’s Office to notify next of kin, and then the ID usually appears in the daily list of investigated cases, which is usually sent out around 3 pm.

  • Derek March 19, 2025 (4:26 pm)

    I hope people protest. This is ridiculous. Cannot have officers shooting people. I don’t care if there was a knife. Think of other methods.

    • CarDriver March 19, 2025 (4:42 pm)

      I’ll protest that instead of working as a care team member or mental health/drug counselor or donating money for homeless housing we have to read the ” police are evil” comments from people who are angry “someone else” isn’t doing something to “fix everything” so they don’t have to. A little hint: the someone else you’ve hired to deal with all these issues is the police.

    • Frustrated March 19, 2025 (4:46 pm)

      Protest? Are you kidding me? Let’s put you in that exact same situation and see how you handle it. Police have a hard enough time doing their jobs without self righteous community quarterbacking from the public. From the limited info we have it seems like it happened so quick and everything was done that could be done. 

    • DW March 19, 2025 (5:05 pm)

      Uhhhh… I won’t be one to protest. My kids school playground is down the street. Thankfully, he didn’t decide to walk up on the school and hurt them before himself. 

      • Derek March 19, 2025 (6:41 pm)

        First off “man up” is very outdated gender specific thing to say. Second, no, I refuse to be a property protector for the state that thinks they have to resort to killing a human being, sorry I have a bit more faith in humanity than you do. That was a person with a soul and now they’re dead. But sure “man up” (ridiculous).

        • ltfd March 20, 2025 (11:07 am)

          Perhaps then, “Don’t get your panties in a bunch”?

    • Balderdash March 19, 2025 (5:58 pm)

      ”other methods’ were tried. 40 caliber non lethal was used. Didn’t stop him.Maybe protest the characters that try to advance on the police with knives or guns. That sounds like a proper protest.

      • Pete March 19, 2025 (6:34 pm)

        Sigh. Despite all the evidence to the contrary there is simply *no way* to take a knife wielding suspect alive. I guess the knives over here are more knifey or something. This is just like healthcare – it’s quite ok to look at how other countries do things better than us and learn from them… it doesn’t make you any less of an American!

    • Anne March 20, 2025 (7:05 am)

      If you think someone with a knife can’t hurt or kill an  armed police officer- stop ranting & do some research. But sure you(or are you Jort in disguise) go right ahead & protest. 

  • Marcus March 19, 2025 (4:26 pm)

    Very good to see so many supporting the SPD! Not very long ago there would have been cries to “Defund The Police”. Thank you SPD for making the difficult choice and please stay safe while keeping us safe.

    • Lauren March 20, 2025 (8:52 am)

      Defund the police. 

      • ltfd March 20, 2025 (11:08 am)

        Fund

  • Bill March 19, 2025 (4:45 pm)

    Condolences to the family and friends of this yet identified person. I’m sorry. I wish there had been a different outcome for all involved.

  • jw March 19, 2025 (4:52 pm)

    How about shooting like John Reese  just above the knee

    • Frustrated March 19, 2025 (6:21 pm)

      What? And have the victim in a moment of lucidity sue the SPD and the city for injuring them? No, police are trained to shoot center mass and not do “trick shots”. 

      • CAM March 20, 2025 (8:05 am)

        Wait. So now the police shoot people in the place most likely to result in death because if they didn’t the person might live and sue them? Not that that’s at all true, but if it was I’m all in favor of the SPD/city being sued for all their worth. 

  • Sad March 19, 2025 (5:19 pm)

    I am so sad for all involved–the police officers put in this awful position, the man in crisis, the loved ones of all involved, the bystanders. This is a tragedy.  I don’t want to judge the man in crisis, the police, or anyone else. All we can do now is learn from any mistakes that were made, attempt to make sure we advocate for appropriate mental health services in our communities, and try to help all of the survivors heal from this trauma.In a time when there are so many forces trying to pull our society apart, let’s remember these were human beings doing the best they could. I want to show all of them grace.

    • Livetoserve March 19, 2025 (6:10 pm)

      Werd. We should be supporting anybody striving to do their best for themselves and others these days.

    • Workdowntown March 19, 2025 (7:59 pm)

      Indeed. 

  • Natty RAD! March 19, 2025 (5:28 pm)

    Drove past on my way to the gym and it’s still closed off. Very sad for all involved. 

  • Admiral-2009 March 19, 2025 (5:41 pm)

    Derek – protest what?  Police attempted to use non lethal means but the assailant armed with a knife came after the officers.  Officer’s have right to protect themselves!

    • Derek March 19, 2025 (6:40 pm)

      We wait until body cam footage comes out. I won’t take just their word.

      • ltmmgm March 20, 2025 (10:52 am)

        @ Derek, Of course you will wait for the body cam and once it is available whatever the outcome may be you will mark it down in your “book”  of accomplishments of whatever you think you may know.  

  • SAD+1 March 19, 2025 (6:01 pm)

    @ Sad – Thank you for putting my feelings into words: I am so sad for all involved–the police officers put in this awful position, the man in crisis, the loved ones of all involved, the bystanders. This is a tragedy.  I don’t want to judge the man in crisis, the police, or anyone else. All we can do now is learn from any mistakes that were made, attempt to make sure we advocate for appropriate mental health services in our communities, and try to help all of the survivors heal from this trauma.In a time when there are so many forces trying to pull our society apart, let’s remember these were human beings doing the best they could. I want to show all of them grace.

  • WestSide 4 life March 19, 2025 (6:41 pm)

    Support the Blue. Let the justice system root out law enforcement corruption. Otherwise, stop the early judgment on the police. Our city has a very difficult job in hiring law enforcement. I wonder why ?? Support our law enforcement ( large majority are doing a great job) and let the the process handle the rest. Keep up anti police narrative and we all empower the criminals. 

    • CAM March 20, 2025 (8:09 am)

      Asking questions when things like this happen is supporting police. If you or they can’t handle increased scrutiny when something goes wrong that will lead to greater distrust and more risk. And yes, any time someone ends up dead in one of these incidents it is something going wrong. 

    • walkerws March 20, 2025 (4:09 pm)

      The justice system has proven fundamentally incapable of rooting out endemic law enforcement corruption, so your entire premise is flawed.

  • Grilled Cheese March 19, 2025 (6:47 pm)

    This is wild. I was walking out of the Home Depot when this was happening. As I was leaving the parking lot fire trucks blasted by me and were pulling up to the police station. Sad to hear. Glad no one else was hurt, even me. 

  • Roy Fauntler March 19, 2025 (7:14 pm)

    Derek, the officers were attacked in their workplace, so this is a workplace violence incident. It’s probably the ONLY place in Seattle where officers feel safe while in uniform. Imagine walking out of your cubicle to make a photocopy and there’s a man with a knife trying to kill you at the coffee machine. No one should have to be in that situation.

    • Bill March 19, 2025 (9:03 pm)

      This was in a “secured” area where cars were parked per the police chief. Please check your self. 

      • Roy Fauntler March 19, 2025 (11:10 pm)

        Uh, Bill, the secured, fenced area of the outside of the precinct is their workplace. It’s not open to the public in any way and it’s the first place handcuffed suspects exit SPD vehicles. If you’re unfamiliar with the precinct layout then drive by and inspect it yourself some time.

        • Roy March 21, 2025 (4:58 pm)

          Hey Roy, sorry to trigger your sensitivities. At the same time, nothing I said was incorrect. Watch the tape. 

  • Ronald March 19, 2025 (9:43 pm)

    This is on going investigation. Please respect the law…

  • Preventive pre-crisis resources March 20, 2025 (6:19 am)

    If you’re reading the Blog in its entirety you’ll see a description of the newly expanded CARES team now in WS. It explicitly states they respond to “low level” behavioral and mental health issues. They are not intended for intervention in situations with weapons involved. Nor do they respond within just a few minutes. What would you have happen that didn’t involve the police? Home Depot managers round up all customers inside and out and lock the store down? Same with nearby businesses, homes, and people at bus stops? Sneak up and lock the person inside the secure parking lot? And then wait for the CARES team (that only responds to low level no weapons situations) to arrive? If the man somehow got into a secure parking lot what’s to prevent him from getting back out? Oh yeah, ask Metro just how quickly a bus driver can escape somebody with a knife.The tragedy here is that we are greatly lacking resources to help people with behavioral and mental health issues before it gets to a crisis. Not, not everybody without treatment gets to a crisis point. But some do. What precisely are people saying non-police options should be, how are you going to fund them, how are you going to staff them (there’s a big shortage of workers). Are you yourself willing to volunteer your time to do outreach and support? That’s one puzzle piece that’s evidence based.  Anyhow, if it’s true this is the man reported shortly before to be suicidal, where are the pre-crisis preventive resources?

  • Curtis March 20, 2025 (7:58 am)

    Fully support SpD keeping us safe.  Thank you.

  • Sad+2 March 20, 2025 (9:28 am)

    @Sad – Your compassion and understanding embodies the soul of WS community, as I know it to be growing up here. Thank you!: I am so sad for all involved–the police officers put in this awful position, the man in crisis, the loved ones of all involved, the bystanders. This is a tragedy.  I don’t want to judge the man in crisis, the police, or anyone else. All we can do now is learn from any mistakes that were made, attempt to make sure we advocate for appropriate mental health services in our communities, and try to help all of the survivors heal from this trauma.In a time when there are so many forces trying to pull our society apart, let’s remember these were human beings doing the best they could. I want to show all of them grace.I am so sad for all involved–the police officers put in this awful position, the man in crisis, the loved ones of all involved, the bystanders. This is a tragedy.  I don’t want to judge the man in crisis, the police, or anyone else. All we can do now is learn from any mistakes that were made, attempt to make sure we advocate for appropriate mental health services in our communities, and try to help all of the survivors heal from this trauma.In a time when there are so many forces trying to pull our society apart, let’s remember these were human beings doing the best they could. I want to show all of them grace. – We must put our focus and energy towards how we can support everyone involved in this tragic situation. 

  • A crisis worker March 20, 2025 (12:33 pm)

    Every well-intended fix tried in the past 25 years since I began working in community and crisis outreach has had unintended consequences. With every election and change in government at every level, people have an irresistible need to jettison previous programs and policies to leave their own mark, regardless of how well the old programs were working. When you’re just trying your best to provide services and support to people who need them, it’s demoralizing and disheartening to have to deal with all the newest bureaucrats’ constant rule changes and defunded programs. Imagine how much worse it is to be out there trying to get help.

  • J. March 20, 2025 (12:48 pm)

    My heart goes out to the family of this man. I’m so sorry for your loss. It is so hard to understand how dangerous and serious a mental crisis is, and how quickly it escapes anyone’s ability to control it–including and especially the person being controlled by it. It’s a terrifying nightmare for the people that love them. It doesn’t make any sense, and it’s not fair. I’m so sorry.

    • Anonymous March 20, 2025 (7:25 pm)

      I am so thankful the police were able to handle the situation properly. The perpetrator was near Home Depot, children, police, and could have killed anyone in the public nearby. Think next time you pull a knife on someone. Just think. Try to put thought into your actions!

  • anonyme March 20, 2025 (3:40 pm)

    I support police (although not unconditionally).  I just have to believe that there is a better way to deal with these situations other than lethal force.

  • Anonymous March 20, 2025 (7:11 pm)

    Policing is an administrative service that’s funded by taxpayers. Police are not obligated to ensure a perpetrator’s life is saved. Police protect the public and the police from being injured. Period. 

  • Just Google It March 20, 2025 (11:33 pm)

    On February 11, 2024, Las Cruces (NM) Police Officer Jonah Hernandez was stabbed multiple times including in the face and neck by a knife wielding attacker. Here’s the officer’s obituary (RIP): https://www.odmp.org/officer/26933-patrol-officer-jonah-hernandez

    So yes, knives and knife wielding folks can be extremely dangerous.

    Thank you for your service, Officer Hernandez, we have the watch from here!

  • Jake March 21, 2025 (8:12 am)

    Any update on this? Name? Race? Age? Body cam footage? Or is there any timeline at least to expect that info?

    • WSB March 21, 2025 (9:45 am)

      As noted previously, SPD has a policy of releasing body-camera video within 72 hours of an incident. That would be by 12:18 pm tomorrow (Saturday). The name and age will be released by the Medical Examiner, which releases a daily list around 3 pm each weekday. It wasn’t on yesterday’s list. Criteria for release include notification of next of kin and determination of cause/manner of death (which isn’t as simple as declaring “he was shot to death”). I am also doublechecking to be sure the department’s release will include information such as the officer’s age, length of service, status (on leave? etc.) – TR

      • Mike March 21, 2025 (4:42 pm)

        It’s already released, it’s on the Seattle Police Department YouTube channel.

  • WSB March 21, 2025 (3:41 pm)

    ID added above, released a short time ago by the Medical Examiner’s Office in its daily report.

    • Pissed March 21, 2025 (4:53 pm)

      Does this community not care about protecting their own? Why does the ID matter? You’ve released it so people can potentially harass a grieving widow, google address, etc… extremely disappointed in you WSB. Have some heart and put yourself in the shoes of this family. Yes it’s available, but you didn’t have to publish… shame on you.

      • CarDriver March 21, 2025 (6:00 pm)

        If the person’s name wasn’t released betting you’d be angry that it wasn’t. As far as blaming WSB for publishing? What’s your real point??

Sorry, comment time is over.