UPDATE: Another death reported at encampment off 35th SW; (added) city’s plan regarding site; (2nd update) medical examiner’s report

What was dispatched as an overdose response at the encampment stretching from Rotary Viewpoint Park to West Seattle Stadium has turned fatal; SPD has been dispatched, after SFD reported that the patient, a man in his mid-40s, has died.

5:47 PM: Side note, numerous readers have asked recently what the city’s plan is for addressing this encampment, especially in light of the recent assaults; we’ve been trying to find out but haven’t gotten an answer yet, as the mayor’s office pointed us to the Human Services Department, which then pointed us back to the mayor’s office.

7:20 PM: We’ve been out checking on a few things since publishing that. Shortly after we left, the city sent this response to our original inquiry (initiated Wednesday, before this latest death) regarding the encampment; this response was attributed to the Human Services Department:

The Unified Care Team (UCT) is actively monitoring encampments surrounding Camp Long and Rotary Viewpoint, with outreach partners working to connect individuals onsite to available services. UCT crews continue to remove debris and hazards to mitigate public impact.

Additionally, UCT coordinated with Seattle Public Utilities to conduct a recent two-day deep clean at Camp Long. UCT also met with West Seattle Golf Course staff and SPD to discuss ongoing concerns and the benefits of a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) review.

Unsheltered people are often more exposed to danger and can be vulnerable to violence. The City continues to advance its work to quickly stand up more shelter capacity because we know programs with 24/7 staffing and other safety protocols are a much safer environment for people experiencing homelessness as well as surrounding neighbors.

ADDED FRIDAY NIGHT: The man who died is on the daily list of King County Medical Examiner investigations. It says he was 54 years old and died of “acute combined drug intoxication including fentanyl and methamphetamine.” His was one of two deaths on today’s report listing that cause; the other person was a 57-year-old man described as having died at a “residence,” while this man’s death was described as “outdoors.”

Sonja April 9, 2026 (5:59 pm)

So, how many have to die before city officials put a stop to this insanity? #Enough #RIP

Nearby Neighbor April 10, 2026 (9:52 am)

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So, so sorry for the family and friends of the person lost. The nearby “shelter” needs to offer full services like housing or close. They’re giving people in need food and other items then setting them loose for nearby neighbors and first responders to deal with. With the temp closure of their facility, there are already fewer people occupying nearby bus stops and openly doing drugs where kids and families walk and take transit. If I cut down the wrong tree I could be fined but we’re not helping anyone by enabling them to sleep in our parks or public spaces. They need help and, if they don’t accept it, they should be forced to get it. Bottom line. Everyone deserves a second chance but tossing food their way and telling them to figure out the rest ain’t it.

Erik April 9, 2026 (6:14 pm)

It would seem somewhat productive to start handing out Naloxone to the people that live in that park…

Tu madre April 9, 2026 (7:52 pm)

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They have naloxone . But if they are using alone in a tent it’ll be harder to know when they need
- WSB April 9, 2026 (8:14 pm)
  
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  Somebody had reported administering one dose of Narcan by the time this dispatch was made.
- RO April 9, 2026 (8:41 pm)
  
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  I have been told (not an expert) than narcan/naloxone puts people into active withdrawal and they immediately start to experience acute withdrawal symptoms. As I understand opiate withdrawal is extraordinarily unpleasant, so this can cause people to react unpredictably or violently to its administration. So often other drug users delay administering because they 1) don’t want to jump the gun and ruin their friend’s high, or 2) end someone’s high and elicit a violent reaction from them.
WSzombie April 9, 2026 (8:01 pm)

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And who pays for that? Why should my tax dollars go to funding overdose medication for people who blatantly smoke meth in broad daylight at bus stops?
- Paul April 9, 2026 (9:00 pm)
  
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  Naloxone (Narcan) in Seattle is funded through a combination of federal grants, Washington State funds, King County tax dollars, and opioid settlement money, which are used to distribute the medication for free to the public, first responders, and community organizations. The Seattle Public Library +2Key funding sources
- WSMD April 10, 2026 (5:06 am)
  
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  Well ask yourself what behaviors you have that put your health at risk. Are you obese and either prediabetic or diabetic and stuff your face with donuts? Do you ever exceed the speed limit or other traffic regulations? Have you ever ridden a bike without a helmet? Insert a behavior here __.Why should any of us pay for any expenses incurred by you (also used as a general “you”) as a result of your own behavioral choices? It comes down to judging whose poor choices and bad outcomes are more worthy and acceptable.
  - Peter S. April 10, 2026 (9:29 am)
    
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    I completely agree with you up until your last sentence. I don’t expect anyone else to have to pay If I engage in poor health management choices and/or risky behavior (I have), and then suffer negative consequences. Those are choices I made. Nobody else. It’s called personal responsibility. Something sadly lacking these days.
    - Localresident April 11, 2026 (3:42 pm)
      
      Here are other situations with harm resulting from knowingly taking risks:Ride a bike or motorcycle without a helmet, end up with a major traumatic brain injury requiring lifelong care in a nursing home or around the clock care at home. Who pays for that? Insurance runs out very quickly.Get lost while hiking, need 3 days of Search and Rescue teams to find you and then you are brought down by helicopter. Who pays for all that?
  - Realist April 11, 2026 (10:41 am)
    
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    There is no comparison between speeding and committing crime to fund a fentanyl addiction. If you really care about these people, then you should advocate for prison sentences. There are almost no drugs in prison, and the few that get smuggled in cost x5 what they do on the street. Rehab doesn’t work, there aren’t any mental asylums left, prison is the only realistic option.
- Jackson The Geologist April 10, 2026 (8:11 am)
  
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  Because it’s the humane, empathetic thing to do? Remember? They’re people? Or have you hardened your heart.
- Lagartija Nick April 10, 2026 (10:09 am)
  
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  It costs the state a whole lot more to bury someone than to administer a dose of narcan.
- WSMD April 10, 2026 (7:16 pm)
  
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  PS – Narcan is an opioid antagonist and ineffective against methamphetamine.
- biteme April 15, 2026 (8:14 pm)
  
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  From a cost perspective, supplying Narcan is far cheaper for the taxpayer than a longer hospitalization and/or mortuary services. From a cost POV alone, your argument is weak.

Ihhh April 9, 2026 (6:17 pm)

Allowing people to live in these illegal encampments with ongoing criminal activity, under such poor conditions is not compassion; it is enablement.

B April 11, 2026 (3:01 am)

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Correct

Derrick April 9, 2026 (6:47 pm)

Enough is enough. People are being stabbed. People are dying. There are drugs and paraphernalia strewn about. This park is unusable for the kids in the neighborhood and the proximity to the stadium makes it dangerous for kids to go there also. Compassion for our unhoused neighbors does not mean we are not allowed to use common sense. First – those without homes need to be returned to the community where they last had an address. Then we can use our limited resources for those people in our OWN community to get them housed. We cannot be the dumping ground for Bellevue, Sammamish, and even other states. Next, we have to start enforcing laws against open use of drugs in public. Finally, let’s start funding our mental health system.

W Seattle April 10, 2026 (9:44 am)

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Agree, I think that permissiveness for sanctioning open air drug use and ‘living off the land’ in Seattle by our government becomes a magnet for homeless and drug users to come to inhabit our public open spaces and ignore societal rules, laws and norms.
- Other Neighbor April 11, 2026 (10:08 pm)
  
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  Bingo. We have to evolve here or things will continue to devolve…

Rob April 9, 2026 (6:47 pm)

This is blood on or mayors hands. For gods sake do your job.

Carol April 9, 2026 (8:56 pm)

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Right because unhoused people never died under Harrell’s watch. Get a clue.
- Eric1 April 9, 2026 (10:57 pm)
  
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  That is not an excuse. Not immediately stepping up to do your job isn’t justified because the previous administration did not do their job. The fact that Harrell has blood on his hands does not excuse the current administration. You knew the job was dangerous when you took it Fred. There is a reason few sane people run for political office: Everyone complains, there are few viable solutions and the pay sucks. Not even for a seven figure paycheck would it be worth it.
- Rob April 10, 2026 (7:18 am)
  
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  It was on his hands also. In fact it’s on the entire CC of seattle. Millions an Millions spent an this is what we get.

Azimuth April 9, 2026 (7:10 pm)

The New York Times had an interesting article yesterday on how quickly and easily new lab-made drugs can be created and produced. Far stronger and addictive than Fentanyl. Nasty stuff, these folks don’t stand a chance.

B April 11, 2026 (3:04 am)

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It’s been on a downward slide since Huey Lewis AND THE NEWS told us what’s up.It sucks we only had decades of warning

K E M April 9, 2026 (7:31 pm)

Before launching into all the failures and solutions can we just pause for a moment to hold this person and their family, friends, and community in our hearts? Why go first to “problems” and blame? This was a person who died.

Sonja April 9, 2026 (8:24 pm)

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Because while we’re “pausing” so we can feel compassionate and console our collective guilt others are overdosing right now because we’re failing to ACT.

Frank April 9, 2026 (8:10 pm)

If i had a family member living at the camp i would personally ask the cops to arrest them and put them in jail. Prison is far more safer than living in that squalor. At least the wardens patrol and can get healthcare when inmates need it.

Westwood April 9, 2026 (10:44 pm)

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Interesting that you would ask the cops to arrest your family member rather than offer them a place to live…
- anonyme April 10, 2026 (5:50 pm)
  
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  Have you tried living with a drug addict, which often involves theft and violence? Don’t be so quick to judge, especially when jail provides incentives that exploited and exhausted relatives cannot.
The King April 10, 2026 (7:46 pm)

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Having them arrested sounds simple enough. Depending on what type of drug they’re on the person would most likely die from the withdrawals. Law enforcement folks can generally tell and won’t bring them into custody for this reason. It’s a liability and expense issue. Much like throwing an alcoholic in the old day term “drunk tank”.
- Mel April 11, 2026 (5:25 am)
  
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  False. Law enforcement arrest them and then they get declined by the jail itself. Then cops have to take them to the hospital to get cleared before booking and it’s not realistic for a cop to wait on every person that gets declined if they’ve not committed a major crime. It’s a staffing/capacity issue.

1994 April 9, 2026 (9:32 pm)

Long term squatters over at Roxhill Park have rude signs that says NO Trespassing and Keep Out! They also have an unleashed guard dog that will come over to bark and growl at people walking on the path…..This is a public park. Have done the Fifi thing…..but they send the unified care team to do deep cleans?!? which will just need to be repeated as the city allows the squatters to remain and continue to damage the parks.

Gatewood Resident April 9, 2026 (9:48 pm)

It’s almost like we’re getting exactly the government that most people voted for

Lagartija Nick April 10, 2026 (10:06 am)

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Considering homelessness and drug addiction are a national problem, you’re right we do get what we vote for. So what does that orange freak squatting in the Oval Office plan to do about it?

Z April 9, 2026 (10:22 pm)

Trying to understand how it’s “compassionate” and “humane” for people to OD to death + get beaten (nearly) to death— over and over again— in our parks . Wilson, Saka, and these city teams’ inaction will continue to cost lives. DO SOMETHING.

Dp April 9, 2026 (10:31 pm)

WTF!!! This is not right. They aren’t supposed to be in parks anyway. Come on mayor. Do something about this!!!!!

Joyce April 9, 2026 (10:48 pm)

This location around the stadium and in Rotary Park never used to be a problem until the shelter nearby opened. I watch a steady stream of people walk back and forth to the park every morning with their free breakfast and then begin loitering and using drugs for the day. This is one of the only tracks in the city. It’s currently unsafe for kids to do their workouts there without supervision and it’s preventing athletes from using a city facility as the tents have proliferated in the park and down into the woods by the golf course. The city needs to do something that will last more than a day — for everyone’s safety, including taxpayers.

Oerthehillz April 10, 2026 (6:25 pm)

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Couldn’t agree more.

B April 9, 2026 (10:52 pm)

Very sad and concerning that city departments aren’t stepping up. That encampment has grown large very quickly with obvious open drug use during the day. I have never seen it this bad. I used to commute by bus every day on that route but wouldn’t feel safe today. This afternoon there was a large police and medic response in the junction that lasted about an hour for someone periodically yelling. I wondered if it was another drug user from the encampment on 35th.

Other Neighbor April 9, 2026 (11:06 pm)

Echoing the calls for the city to do more about the encampments, prevalent and open use, and safety concerns. This cannot get better on its own or by enabling.

DRW April 10, 2026 (6:48 am)

What do we need more A) Tiny Houses B) Mental Health Programs C) Drug Addiction Programs?

Drew April 10, 2026 (6:59 am)

This encampment has now stretched at least two blocks up the hill from the rotary view point. There were many new tents there last evening.

CW April 10, 2026 (8:31 am)

The homeless crisis has been long in the making. For decades, city, county, and state governments have voted in the interest of business. Community-based mental health was never appropriately funded, all of the lowest-cost housing has been converted to more profitable housing or businesses, the coming drug epidemic was obvious, and most recently both Seattle and King County leaders abandoned the city during Covid. And here is the big but: anytime anyone demands that those who make the most profit in our city also pay a fair share in taxes akin to what all employees get automatically taken out of their paychecks, they are demonized as socialists and communists. Get off your high horse and stop crying you don’t want your taxes used for helping homeless folks. Society, aka “we”, has created this problem, and society will have to fix it.

Justin P Simpson April 10, 2026 (2:20 pm)

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Huh? It started when stupid tech companies ran rampant and rent and home ownership were outta reach for locals. Coupled with no police and passive city leadership.

W Seattle April 10, 2026 (9:30 am)

I drive daily past rotary park, can’t count the number of times I have seen public urination and defecation by the woods adjacent to the golf course. I drove past the cordoned off incident a few weeks ago when residents were attacked by another resident with the fire extinguisher. Until recently I didn’t know why some people by the park and tents were hunched over, now I know thanks to google that it’s a symptom of Fentanyl interaction causing muscles relaxing. It’s not surprising that a resident OD’d at the site.Simply put, it’s unacceptable for people to live this way. Conversely, it’s up to the city to do something about it to protect these individuals and our W. Seattle community at large. IMHO, our local government and council are failing abysmally.

jsparra April 10, 2026 (9:39 am)

” For decades, city, county, and state governments have voted in the interest of business.” I’m sorry, what city do you live in? That’s a joke, this city has had a gigantic “D” running it forever. Pro-business?

flimflam April 10, 2026 (10:27 am)

This is ridiculous. It’s a public park and not intended for living in or being occupied on a permanent basis.It’s sad that yet another death has occurred but that seems to be the only thing that leads to action by the city regarding these camps.

Derek April 10, 2026 (11:18 am)

Public housing and free healthcare is the way out

Jim P April 10, 2026 (2:50 pm)

Same old same old: We are actively engaging……I don;t think these paces have many decent people just down on their luck you can help any longer.Give them two chances to move into shelter and sober up and after that, they are on their own to live their chosen life but not at our expense or in parks and places the rest of the community cannot safely use because of them.Let them clean up their own messes while we are at it. Call it social responsibility training or such.”Additionally, UCT coordinated with Seattle Public Utilities to conduct a recent two-day deep clean at Camp Long.”

dwg April 10, 2026 (3:19 pm)

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akin to sweeping the floor while the building’s on fire

Ruckus April 10, 2026 (2:52 pm)

I suggest the the Rotary Viewpoint Park park be renamed Rob Saka Park. After a year-long study, of course.

Denden April 10, 2026 (6:27 pm)

I work right next to the park and on a daily basis I see that zombies walking from the shelter to the park through our property stopping at the bus stop to take a leak or other things close the GD shelter now ended it does not belong in our neighborhood end of subject.

WS Res April 10, 2026 (8:41 pm)

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People. You see people.
- Denden April 12, 2026 (7:13 am)
  
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  No. Zombies who are being enabled by people like you. Shelter MUST GO!
  - K April 12, 2026 (4:41 pm)
    
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    Comments like this, using hyperbole like calling people zombies, are deeply unserious. You are part of the problem when you are unwilling to have adult conversations using grown-up words and speaking to facts.

WS Parent April 11, 2026 (8:04 pm)

My child’s daycare is across the street from this park. One of her teachers (a nun) told me that they used to take the kids there to run around on the grass and eat popsicles for birthday celebrations. No longer.

Other Neighbor April 11, 2026 (10:15 pm)

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They should share this with the mayor’s office.

Karen B April 12, 2026 (11:08 pm)

Just want to weigh in on the overall issue of seeing how this area has begun to deteriorate and feel increasingly unsafe when walking down the street because of the encampments, the open drug use especially at the bus shelters, the panhandlers at the entrances to stores, the shoplifters in the stores, and the often scary encounters with those with mental health issues. Had one of the latter threaten to slit my throat as I walked west on Alaska toward the junction; I’ve seen impaired folks roam into oncoming traffic at the intersection of Fauntleroy and Alaska, and have had to navigate around 6+ folks slumped over and blocking the sidewalk at the bus stop just east of there. Trying to avoid that scary mess to get to the junction, I’ve also had to backtrack and reroute my path when such folks are “resting” on (basically blocking) the stairway between 38th and Fauntleroy on Edmunds.