Update: South Park murder suspect in custody

8:16 PM UPDATE: Police have issued the official announcement confirming the suspect’s arrest. We’ll be publishing a separate item next.

UPDATE: 6:57pm: We’re working to confirm a report that the South Park murder suspect has been arrested.  This comes about an hour after the Seattle Police sent these photos and this press release.

Those photos and this news release just in from the Seattle Police.

SEATTLE – Seattle Police homicide detectives have identified a suspect in the July 19th South Park murder/attempted murder case. Probable cause exists for police officers to arrest Isaiah M.K. Kalebu (DOB: August 1, 1985) for Murder. Kalebu is six feet tall with a slim build. Detectives and officers are searching for him at this moment.

Kalebu is believed to be armed with knives and is considered extremely dangerous. Citizens recognizing Kalebu should call 911 immediately. He may or may not be accompanied by the dog pictured. Kalebu is the same individual captured by surveillance video that was distributed earlier today. There are no other suspects wanted in this investigation.

Here again is the video release from earlier today.

14 Replies to "Update: South Park murder suspect in custody"

  • Scott c July 24, 2009 (6:57 pm)

    KIRO says that he’s in custody…

  • LAP July 24, 2009 (6:58 pm)

    Just heard he was arrested in Magnuson park. People will sleep a little better tonite all over the city.

  • Cheryl July 24, 2009 (7:00 pm)

    Maybe it’s b/c so many of my close friends are like these two women who were attacked. Or b/c I’m a woman & somewhere deep in my bones I understand and identify w/ that kind of fear. Fear that I’ll be attacked. Or that (God forbid) my daughter will. Or maybe it’s b/c the attack was so brutal, so senseless, and so utterly unnecessary. What could possibly be the reason for such a crime? How can anyone ever justify doing something like this? (Um, they can’t)

    How does a community recover from this? How does the family, friends, and Teresa’s partner recover? Can they ever?

    This has just REALLY hit me hard. And close to the bone. And I just hope they catch this guy, whomever he may be, and put him away forever. B/c this kind of brutality cannot EVER be rehabilitated.

    The loss cannot be undone.

    I’m just so sorry for Teresa’s family & friends. I send them love, prayers & my deepest condolences.

  • Alcina July 24, 2009 (7:17 pm)

    Great job SPD–thank you! Thank you also to everyone else who may have helped in any way. The police cannot ever do it all by themselves.

  • k July 24, 2009 (7:25 pm)

    there is not a punishment to fit this cruel crime. my heart aches for her partner and family.

  • angelescrest July 24, 2009 (7:26 pm)

    Someone on the pi comment site has found a connection:
    http://www.thenewstribune.com/331/story/817045.html
    Awful1

  • JanS July 24, 2009 (7:27 pm)

    He was/is supposed to go to trial in August? Why do these people bail these guys out, and then get a restraining order the next day? Why do we let them out before the trial? It’s truly dismaying, isn’t it?

  • Stuart July 24, 2009 (7:32 pm)

    His aunt, who died in the fire he will be questioned about, is the one who posted bail and then got the restraining order the next day.

  • Cheriberri July 24, 2009 (8:20 pm)

    Oh my god i new the second i saw his picture i knew him we were in the same grade he went to Denny with me Im in shock!!

  • WSB July 24, 2009 (8:21 pm)

    We have the official announcement from police now and I’m writing a separate story. Will be checking court records, to the degree they’re available at this hour on a Friday night, re: any info on his past – TR

  • Cheriberri July 24, 2009 (8:25 pm)

    I just searched through all my year books from denny and sealth that range from 96-03 and he is only in the first 2. I remember seeing him around and having classes with him but i never got to know him

  • thank god July 24, 2009 (8:50 pm)

    I have been on edge about this. I feel like I don’t live far from South Park – although I am just in Gatewood. On the really hot night last week I slept in a sweltering room with my windows closed. Everyday all day I have thought about those women and their families and the neighbors. It’s traumatizing for the entire community. I am so impressed by SPD and their work to catch him. Let’s just hope this is him.

  • Angry but hopeful July 24, 2009 (9:20 pm)

    I know what you mean, ‘thank god’ – I wake up in the night thinking about her and her partner, her parents, the teenaged girl who tried to comfort her and stop the bleeding. And Cheryl, I agree with everything you say, too. What a terrible loss.
    I don’t know why, but this one really got to me. Possibly because I know people like Teresa and her partner, possibly because I saw her tidy red house on a regular basis when I was visiting a friend who is – was – her neighbor, every couple of weeks.
    South Park is a borderline neighborhood at times, sure, but there are more and more nice streets, just like Teresa’s: with neighbors working on their gardens, fixing up their houses, kids biking and playing in the street, people working hard and making their lives and the area better. The monster that did this will get payback – in this life or the next – but the rest of us should step up and see if there’s even one thing we can do to defy that kind of madness. Get to know your neighbors, volunteer, help someone anonymously or not: this horror can’t be undone, but this guy, this F$*# – whether it’s the suspect in custody or someone else – does not deserve to cause any more loss than he already has.

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