Tips sought in White Center murder: ‘You took the life of an innocent young man for no reason’

King County Sheriff’s Office investigators are pleading for the public’s help in solving an early-morning murder in White Center. We reported the deadly shooting earlier on partner site White Center Now, but now, KCSO is casting a net far and wide in hopes of getting tips, so we’re publishing the latest update here too:

The King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting and killing of a man in the White Center area … and is asking for the public’s help.

On 11/27/13 at about 2:15 AM, deputies were dispatched to the area of SW 108 St and 2nd Ave SW after a caller reported hearing at least one gunshot and said there was a man down in the middle of the street. Deputies arrived at the scene to find a young adult male lying in the street suffering from at least one gunshot wound. They attempted life-saving measures but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Sergeant Tony McNabb said, “Two young men were walking along SW 108 St. minding their own business when they were confronted by the two suspects. The suspects accused the innocent victim and his friend of being in a rival gang to which they both denied. As the victim and his friend began walking away, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and began firing at the two, hitting and killing one of them.”

Deputy Charlie Akers is asking for the public to “Put themselves in the shoes of this innocent young man’s family. As we are entering the holiday season, this family is grieving the senseless loss of this young man. If this was one of your loved ones, you would want answers, you would want justice. A young man has lost his life because he was mistaken to be in a gang.”. Deputy Akers added a message to the suspects: “You took the life of an innocent young man for no reason; turn yourself in.”

If you know anything about this senseless crime, please call 206-296-3311.

26 Replies to "Tips sought in White Center murder: 'You took the life of an innocent young man for no reason'"

  • Mike November 27, 2013 (4:19 pm)

    I don’t consider this area to be part of White Center. Isn’t it Top Hat/Boulevard Park? We have enough problems in White Center proper without adding things like this.

    • WSB November 27, 2013 (4:28 pm)

      Wherever you want to call it, officers are trying to solve a murder. In our general reference, Top Hat and Boulevard Park have the S. addresses, not the SW. But there may be multiple interpretations. In the KCSO’s original announcement, it was described as “the White Center area of West Seattle.” One TV station overnight mislabeled it as Burien. Then there was a reference to “the White Center area of South Seattle.” I suppose we could just say North Highline. – TR

  • alki Resident November 27, 2013 (4:26 pm)

    This is so horrible, Im so sorry for the family and friends of this guy. These punks would be nothing without their guns as they would never be big and tough enough for an all out fist fight. It amazes me how we can be going about our business and get caught up with trash like this. Can we not walk in our own neighborhoods anymore without running into the local power trippers?

  • payrollgirl November 27, 2013 (5:07 pm)

    Mike, WSB>>>>Or we could just say that somebodies life was taken away way too soon and now the family must morn the loss of their loved one…

  • monroe1200 November 27, 2013 (5:29 pm)

    Or we could say, who is out walking at 2am in the middle of the week in that part of town. The only time you would be out walking the streets at that time is if you are out at a bar, which this area is not known for. I’m sure that there is more to this then what the friend of the deceased is saying to the police officers. I know that if I’m out at that time in that part of town, then I’m probably up to no good also. But thats just me and my insane thought process. Nothing I stated though makes it ok or right. My condolences to his family.

  • GB November 27, 2013 (5:51 pm)

    Mike, regardless of exactly which neighborhood this happened in, these two gangs are very much active in parts of West Seattle and White Center and it could have happened in any of those places. We are all neighbors fighting the increasing gang violence.

  • Dave November 27, 2013 (6:22 pm)

    What two gangs are purportedly involved? Thx

  • Rebecca November 27, 2013 (6:31 pm)

    Very sad. Unfortunately, the people who probably know about this are likely gang-involved themselves or they already would have spoken up. Hopefully someone gets to talking carelessly in front of someone with a conscience. Is there information about which gangs, exactly, have set up shop in our neighborhoods? Maybe what their tags and signs are? I know people do the best they can to cover up graffiti and such, but if we were all a little more aware, maybe we could do better at making our neighborhoods less gang-friendly.

  • WTF November 27, 2013 (6:35 pm)

    I feel for the family and friends of the (innocent) young men, especially those of the one who was murdered. Let’s not sugar coat it, he was MURDERED!
    Let’s also face the fact that gang members, ALL of them, are PsOS and thrive on violence because that’s the only thing that makes them “tough”. They couldn’t spend the night alone in the woods or ride a horse without crying.
    HOWEVER, as my mother always said, “Nothing. And, I mean nothing good happens on the streets after midnight.” So, that begs the question why these “innocent” men were just minding their own business on the streets at 2:15 a.m. on a Wednesday?

  • Marianne November 27, 2013 (7:16 pm)

    I live in the neighborhood where this happened (I would call it Top Hat, but it doesn’t really matter). When I came home tonight one of the two driveways to my complex was blocked by a #128 Metro bus with two Sheriff’s deputies and a group of young people arguing on the sidewalk, (clearly kicked off of the bus). I couldn’t believe that they weren’t arrested with the way they were talking back to officers. Officers told them to go home but that they would need to find some other way than the bus. They walked off, clearly agitated. The neighborhood has never been nice, especially where the young man was killed early this morning. The only grocery store in the neighborhood closed a few years ago and concrete barriers have been placed in the parking lot to prevent cars from gathering, I suppose. The concrete barriers offer a great hang out place for the thugs though.

  • OnHolden November 27, 2013 (7:33 pm)

    What are the colors and symbols of area gangs? I suggest we hold a weekly 5k run through gang territories with everyone wearing one color. Let’s just take away all the powers of their symbolism.

    This is ridiculous. People should be able to walk down the street without being murdered for potential gang affiliation. The gang ain’t sh-t, they aren’t going to bail your ass out of jail. When did all these kids get so hard? Seattle and the surrounding areas are not a “real” ghetto. Send these idiots to the 3rd and 5th ward of Houston and they would come back crying. The gang is not their friend, how can we get this message across. When incarcerated joining another gang is the only way to survive. It’s a snake eating its tail.

    How should we stop this senseless behavior? There is now a person out there that values the life of another person as less than a false sense of loyalty/family with other sociopaths in the making.

  • Seattlite November 27, 2013 (8:01 pm)

    Tragic — condolences to the family. Gangs are nothing but groups of cowards that bully innocents with guns, verbal threats. Mayor Murray should make Seattle’s gang problem a top priority before it gets any more out of control.

  • evergreen November 27, 2013 (9:14 pm)

    I agree that we the public need more education about the gangs in WS. Who are they, what do they call themselves, how are they identified, where do they hang out, how do they recruit our kids, why do they carry guns, what do they purport to believe in, what is the city doing about this problem, how do we talk to our kids about it, etc… Maybe WSB could do an educational expose?

    • WSB November 27, 2013 (9:52 pm)

      We recorded a presentation at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council last year that would be good viewing for anyone interested in this topic – gangs from West Seattle southward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SX9CDx_zyg

  • Darryll November 27, 2013 (9:23 pm)

    Enough with these useless gang banging fools! The idiotic and useless Vario Locos should be first on the b list. The SPD and KCSO do not seem to be capable of stopping this on their own. Maybe it is time to have actual citizen patrols on foot in these areas. Let’s just send a message too this useless garbage that we will no longer tolerate their presence on OUR turf. Go away!

  • Trouble November 27, 2013 (10:54 pm)

    @WSB thanks for the link, will be watching that presentation.

    I’m seeing many more gang members these days in the White Center to Roxbury Safeway and Roxhill/Westwood areas. They are increasingly brazen and visible during the day and at night. Both the boys and the girls. Very concerning.

    Sorry to the family for their loss, and I hope the sheriff’s office will get the information they need for arrests.

  • alki Resident November 28, 2013 (12:01 am)

    The gang maps are dated 2010, it mentions High Point as gang territory. Im pretty sure thats no longer the case but Im not certain. I had to laugh at some of their names, just wow.

  • Shelly November 28, 2013 (5:21 am)

    The report describes two black youths wearing red…
    This could be related to the tag war we have seen around Westwood between W$ Bloods and VArios Locos.
    W$ Bloods obviously wear red and are located around Roxhill…VL according to the map are traditionally White Center.
    They keep crossing each other out and it is believed they were the two gangs who had a knife fight two months ago at Westwood…
    If the police read these posts I hope they look into this possibility.

  • Surgical November 28, 2013 (9:34 am)

    This was my cousin an thanx to everyone for caring I miss him so much but understand life is full of f-cked up things sometimes he was not in no gangs at all he was on a bad path tho hanging out with street junkies and night prowlers I tried so hard to get him outta that scene but he was older than me and makes his own choices :/ everyone have happy holidays…..

    • WSB November 28, 2013 (9:42 am)

      Surgical … we are sorry for your loss. No one deserves to be gunned down in the street, regardless of what path they are on. I hope the killers will be caught. Thank you for posting here. – Tracy (editor)

  • payrollgirl November 28, 2013 (11:06 am)

    Surgical…be proud of what you were trying to accomplished with your cousin, and I believe he knew but just got caught up in all the bad of life now a days and couldn’t get out of it. sad… but he knew you loved him and I’m sure he loved you too.
    Just remember all the good in him.

  • Cindertang November 28, 2013 (12:18 pm)

    I am so so sorry for the loss of life.Having grown up in this area I know to well the lure of gang ties a younger me used them to not be shot, knifed or be beaten up, if you were part of or associated with a gang you were protected by the fact if you belonged you were left alone. I have grown up and survived. Times have changed no longer is there respect for each other or life. Peace and love to you all.

  • joel November 28, 2013 (2:24 pm)

    I would make tagging and vandalism a crime doing 20 years plus. lock them up for tagging and you put away most gang members.

    is MONK locked up these days? whoever that is was tagging all over and now I don’t see any new MONK tags. maybe MONK got what he/they deserved?

  • As November 29, 2013 (10:36 am)

    About a month ago, very similar situation occurred at Castle Park where gang member threatened teenager at the park with a knife for wearing red, then threatened parents that intervened. My wife actually spotted the guy the next day and king county sheriff would not even arrest him. It’s a shame that the lack of interest/ability in the sheriffs office has culminated into this. Condolences to the family, awful this happened.

  • Heather December 1, 2013 (8:27 am)

    Almost the same thing happened to my friend in high school some years back. Except he did not lose his life. So sorry for your loss..

    We were at a bus stop across from the Admiral Safeway. Broad daylight in the summer. My friend happened to be wearing a red t-shirt he liked (and has worn plenty of times before) when a blue car pulled up at the traffic light. They rolled down their windows and began yelling at my friend saying they’re going to fight him and that they’re coming for him. My friend frightening kept saying no, no I’m not apart of a gang! Just as they drove off and turned around, our bus pulled up. Took my friend awhile to cool down after that. Never seen him so scared. I was stunned at how things like that can happen to anyone, anywhere. And in this case, all because of a plain t-shirt seen as unacceptable in another mans eyes. Excuse me, I see people wear plain t- shirts all the time. Since when is it ever okay to accuse and kill someone over it. Or walk up to two strangers minding their own business. Or take any innocent life, ever.
    So sad.. So sorry.

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