Update: Police ask for help to solve overnight murder in South Park

3:47 PM UPDATE: Police have added a little more information about the case via their SPDBlotter site – both victims were asleep at the time of the attack; the one who was killed was 37, the one who escaped is 40.

ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:41 AM: We covered this incident overnight on Twitter, where we often post about out-of-West Seattle news because nobody else is up covering news at that hour: Someone broke into a home in South Park and stabbed two women, killing one. (Here’s a map to where it happened.) Now the Southwest Precinct (which handles South Park as well as West Seattle) is asking that information about the attack be posted far and wide – so we’re publishing the “informational bulletin” just forwarded by Sgt. Jeff Durden:

At about 0300 hours, an unknown suspect entered a residence in the 700 block of S. Rose Street. The two occupants were attacked, and one has since died from injuries sustained in the attack. The second victim is undergoing medical treatment at an area hospital for her injuries.

The suspect is described as:
• black male,
• late 20’s to early 30’s in age
• He is approximately 5’-9” to 6’-0” tall,
• with a thin muscular build.
• The suspect has a thin moustache,
• “nappy” hair.

The suspect is still at large. The Seattle Police Homicide Unit is investigating this incident, and asks that citizens call the homicide unit at (206) 684-5550 with any information, or King County Crime Stoppers at (206) 343-2020 or send a text to “crimes” (274637).

Citizens are asked to call 911 to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods, and to contact the Seattle Police Department Crime Prevention Unit at (206) 684-7724 for additional information on personal safety. During warm weather, citizens are reminded of the necessity to secure all doors and windows in their homes.

The public is invited to a community meeting at the South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Avenue South, on Monday, July 20, at 7:00 pm.

Interim Chief John Diaz

17 Replies to "Update: Police ask for help to solve overnight murder in South Park"

  • TP July 19, 2009 (1:14 pm)

    That is scary…

  • Dave July 19, 2009 (1:30 pm)

    Good for the WSB to publish this detailed information, which should great aid in the capture and eventual prosecution of this murderer. I suppose it is true, we actually do need accurate and complete descriptions to locate suspects.

    Our beloved and defunct PI would of never had the gut to publish the these facts.

  • Beth July 19, 2009 (1:49 pm)

    I lived next door to these women for 7 years, and my heart goes out to them and their families. I love both of them very much, and hope the police find the a$$hole who did this.

  • Laurie July 19, 2009 (7:04 pm)

    I’m so sorry for these women and I pray that the one who survived can heal from this horror.

  • Mike July 20, 2009 (1:26 am)

    This is fairly close to where one of the homeless encampments is on highland park drive. My Mother in law works in that area and she said some ladies went for a walk up that nature trail toward the bottom of the hill, not knowing the camp was there and were chased by some men. Thankfully they got away from whoever chased them.

    If that encampment is still up there then the spd should definitely shakedown the camp for suspects.

  • Kristi July 20, 2009 (6:54 am)

    Mike- that would be important information to pass along to the SPD.

  • lechat July 20, 2009 (10:19 am)

    “The man was described as being in his late 20s or early 30s and about 6 feet tall, with a thin muscular build, medium-black complexion and thin mustache.” (From the Seattle Times, http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009500278_websouthparkstabbing19.html)

    I do appreciate the Seattle Times’ more race-neutral description of the suspect, though I understand why you published the SPD bulletin as it was released.

  • WSB July 20, 2009 (10:51 am)

    We quoted the police bulletin directly, which was sent to us in the 10 am hour yesterday with a request for publication ASAP. FWIW, since you mention them, the Times at that moment was running a brief item without the location of the incident, more than six hours after we had been covering it on Twitter (which all major local news agencies utilize – also, SPD had deployed a media officer to the scene as of 4:30 am), and a headline that erroneously said it happened in West Seattle. (I sent a message to their desk letting them know about that error and they fixed it.) – TR

  • Foo July 20, 2009 (12:56 pm)

    @lechat

    Yeah, better not to quote what the police actually released based on a statement from a witness. I have no idea what the difference in the racial sensitivity score is between “black male” and “medium black complexion.” The latter would be fine if it was what the witness actually said, otherwise it’s just potentially misleading. After all, we’re looking for the guy. I HOPE it wasn’t written that way to be more “race-neutral.”

  • Kristi July 20, 2009 (3:36 pm)

    at lechat: Please! let’s not bring race into this. One woman is dead.
    If the witness described a black male with an afro, then so be it. Now is not the time to write “racially sensitive” material when there is a manhunt going on in my neighborhood.
    Sick and tired of this PC bullsh*t when there is such a crisis going on. It is what it is.

  • My2Cents July 20, 2009 (8:45 pm)

    I’m with you Kristi. Cripes – other people are potentially in danger at this point. Just catch the bA$tard and hang him by his #&#$. (Oops – hope I didn’t offend anyone. (Just kiddin’)

  • roddy July 20, 2009 (10:10 pm)

    The erroneous headline saying this happened in WS made it to USA Today this morning.

  • WTF July 20, 2009 (10:42 pm)

    Sad for those of us who are “real” people living here that we continue to be subjected to this. I hope this Son of a B!+@# is caught, tried, convicted, and suffers at the hands of his new “boyfriends” in prison.

    Kristin & My2Cents, you hit the nail right on the head. Let’s just hope that our city officials’ actions speak louder than words and we fry the piece of $#!+ WHEN the SPD catches him.

  • sarah July 21, 2009 (3:25 pm)

    Mike

    I’m pretty sure that homeless camp was removed earlier this year. I work in the area and my co-workers told me about it.

  • Terry July 23, 2009 (7:20 am)

    My wife went to the community meeting. She claims there was a black mail there acting strangely and a group of our spanish community were commenting on his behavior. The only difference was he had dread locks. I know and I am sure the police are aware of the possibility of changing one’s discription. He could have shaved his head for that matter. I have to wonder also if there wasn’t some sort of connection. I have heard downtown that the departed worked for Luthern compass center. But that is just hearsay. There may or may not be a connection. I hope there is it will make it that much easier to catch the piece of sh*t.

  • Mark July 24, 2009 (11:55 am)

    Did the women who were assaulted self-identify as a lesbian couple? Has this murder/attack been reviewed as a possible hate crime?

    I’m a 51 year old gay man and despite what you see on TV and hear about gay marriage, gay people get attacked every day.

  • WSB July 24, 2009 (12:01 pm)

    It was reported in our earlier coverage, from the community meeting with police on Monday night, that the hate-crime team is reviewing the case to see if that’s a possibility – TR

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