West Seattle, Washington
19 Monday
(WSB photo)
Six weeks after 20-year-old Ka’Don Brown was found shot to death on the southwest end of the Chief Sealth International High School campus, his murder remains unsolved. His family and friends remain anxious for answers. Holding signs reading “Justice for Ka’Don” and “Who Killed Ka’Don?”, they walked to the SPD Southwest Precinct this afternoon for a streetcorner demonstration. The most recent update from police, as reported here, is that they were “waiting on search warrants” – but there have been no public updates in the week-plus since then. If you have any information, the SPD tip line is 206-233-5000.
Jose sent this for a friend who is the latest to have a Kia Soul stolen:
“My Kia Soul (orange) was stolen sometime last night. The car was parked on 59th Avenue SW near Alki Beach around 8 PM. This morning, around 8:30 AM, the car was nowhere to be found. Broken window glass was found where the car was last parked.
Information about the vehicle –
2018 orange Kia Soul
License Plate Number: CES6093
Police Report Number: 23-138415Please keep an eye out.
The photo shows the back of the car, with stickers.
Four West Seattle Crime Watch notes:
STOLEN SILVER SOUL: WSB readers continue spotting stolen cars, so maybe this one is findable too. From Derek;
Looks like my 2019 silver Kia Soul, license plate number CAK0984 ,was stolen last night on a residential street by my apartment complex, 4500 40th Ave SW.. Hoping people can keep a look out for it; it has a crack in the windshield. Police report # 23-137078.
BUSINESS BURGLARY: The mini-mart in Morgan Junction just got burglarized, two months after reopening. The police report says the burglar(s) broke a large window to get in early this morning, and got away with “a large number of tobacco products.”
After obtaining that report, we stopped by for the photo, and store staff confirms that’s what was taken – no cash – and that no one was hurt.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES: Seen in the city permit files this week – the South Delridge 7-11 proposes “installing approximately 22 bollards at the front of the parking stalls so cars cannot drive into the storefront.”
CAR PROWL ON VIDEO: Sent by E:
On California Ave near Myrtle, 5/16 2 AM. Damage to rear door window, no items stolen. Male wearing white shirt walks directly to the car, briefly scopes out, walks around to street side, breaks window, attempts to jump in through the broken window, gets startled by something, starts running away, drops phone, returns to pick up phone, then starts running again. Police report # 23-908233. Also reports of 2 other car prowls in the last 4 days up on Fauntleroy, according to neighbors.
(WSB photo)
8:58 PM: Thanks for the tips. A hit-and-run driver hit and damaged the Taquitos Feliz taco truck at the gas station/mini-mart north of Lincoln Park around 7 pm. Police told us the driver was trying to turn into the gas station but hit the truck instead.
(Photo sent by Nicole)
No serious injuries reported, though SFD was called to the scene a second time to check someone out. The driver was reported to have left the car near the station and gone into Lincoln Park on foot; we don’t know yet if police ever caught up with him.
11:21 PM: Still on the loose, police say. But they did impound his car.
11:52 AM: The truck is open for business, by the way. And so busy, we couldn’t even get close enough to ask a question (we’ll try again later).
For those wondering about the police presence in Westwood – they were looking for a suspect described as wanted in connection with cases including a stolen car and stolen gun. He has been described by dispatch and officers as a Black man in his mid-30s, medium build, no shirt, black shorts, a black hat, white and blue shoes. Officers blocked off the trails north of the shopping center for a while but they’re reopening them now. If you’ve seen anyone matching that description, call 911.
8:17 PM: Police are converging on Delridge and Juneau [map] after gunfire was reported, possibly from vehicles. Officers have told dispatch they’re finding casings from two different guns, apparently rifle and handgun. No reports so far of anyone being hit/hurt. Avoid the area.
8:26 PM: An officer has told dispatch that a “black sedan” that was involved was last seen “southbound near 21st/Myrtle.”
(WSB photos)
8:37 PM: This is on Juneau east of Delridge, between the residences on the north side of the street and Boren STEM K-8 on the south side. Adding photos.
Police are going to reopen the street shortly. They tell us no damage, and the vehicle was further described as a “black newer-model Chrysler 300.”
10:33 PM: Though the city doesn’t record traffic cameras, some private entities do, and one of them caught a bit of this incident on the Delridge/Juneau camera, tweeting it here.
11:55 PM: Police checking out another report of gunfire have found “numerous shell casings” in the 5600 block of 26th SW. They suspect it’s related to the earlier gunfire, as they are reporting two types of casings. They’re also finding vehicles with bullet damage. … Officers have told dispatch that multiple vehicles were struck in the driveway of what they’re referring to as a “problem house” in that block, theorizing it might have been the target.
12:01 PM: Officers have also confirmed a nearby house was hit. So far no reports of injuries. … Looking at nearby homes’ security video, they observed a “black sedan” in this incident too.
Three notes today, following last Saturday’s deadly shooting in Alki:
SHOOTING VICTIM: As added to our original report late yesterday, the victim is now identified as 25-year-old Davonté Sanchez. We don’t have information so far on where he lived but there are numerous online references to his time at Kentwood High School, where he was a basketball standout before graduation in 2016. His former coach remembers Mr. Sanchez: “Heart of Gold and an amazing personality. One of the best people I’ve gotten to know and Coach. Graduated 7 years ago and still gets talked about every season. Truly a special person.” A crowdfunding page has been launched for memorial expenses, with the organizer writing, “He touched so many people’s lives; he was truly one of a kind.” (Photo via GoFundMe.com, used with permission)
INVESTIGATION: Still no word of an arrest or any other updates.
COMMUNITY MEETING: Southwest Precinct police are regular guests at the Alki Community Council‘s monthly meeting, and if you’d like to talk about this or other Alki-area issues, the next meeting is tomorrow night (Thursday, May 18th), 7 pm; you can attend at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) or online.
Two vehicle thefts in West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
STOLEN BUS: From Brendon:
This 2007 Ford E350 short bus was stolen from the Diamond Parking lot behind Coastline Burgers this past weekend. Hoping maybe someone sees it…
CA plate 8LND966
Police report 23-133197
It was taken sometime between 1 am Sunday and Monday morning.
(2:26 pm update: Found, thanks to commenter tip!)
STOLEN MOTORCYCLE: From Dylan:
My 2010 Kawasaki Ninja EX250 was stolen last night between 12 am-5 am. I’ve already contacted the police and had a report filed around 5:15 am. (Sadly this is the 5th attempt and 2nd successful theft)
License Plate: 6B8243
SPD Incident # 23-134718
Reporting Officer: Patrick Michaud
^^ Contact Info: 206-733-9800If anyone happens to see it, please contact either Officer Michaud, or me at 206-755-3328.
Three weeks ago, the State Legislature adjourned without finalizing a new drug-possession law. Today, in a brief special session, both houses approved a revised version of the same bill that failed in April, SB 5536. Here’s the final version, quickly signed by Gov. Inslee. His website explains it:
Washington state’s new drug possession statute prioritizes treatment, establishes a gross misdemeanor penalty for drug possession and public use of drugs, and offers some local control to municipalities. …
A hallmark of the new bill is the degree of flexibility afforded to courts, prosecutors, municipalities, and community service providers.
The original bill that failed in the final hour of the regular session pre-empted local control. A difference in the latest version, one critical to its bipartisan support, was the continued ability for municipalities to approve or prohibit local “harm reduction” providers. Harm reduction services include needle exchanges, safe injection sites, and other programs designed to prevent disease or overdose. The ultimate bill signed by the governor lets local governments maintain some influence over these activities.
Prosecutors and courts were also granted some discretion in the final bill. Rather than have the Legislature set a rigid course for the new pretrial diversion program, courts and prosecutors may consider other alternatives to traditional prosecution. A defendant with behavioral health issues who is also addicted to drugs may benefit most from inpatient behavioral health treatment. A veteran fighting chemical dependency may be diverted to a veteran’s court program. Conversely, a defendant that has serially rejected treatment may be sent to jail. This flexibility may help courts find the right course for each defendant.
The three West Seattle-residing legislators who represent our area and the rest of the 34th District voted the same way they did in the regular-session vote – Sen. Joe Nguyen voted yes, as did Reo, Joe Fitzgibbon (who is also House Majority Leader), while Rep. Emily Alvarado voted no. The final House roll call was 83-13; in the Senate, 43-6.
That’s the video JC sent, showing the aftermath of a Friday night gunfire incident that we didn’t get details about until today. JC and neighbors just moved into new townhomes in the 5000 block of Delridge Way SW a month ago. Here’s what happened:
On Friday 5/12 at 5:40 pm, one of our units was shot at. I believe the police said there were 7 gunshots, and judging by how many walls they went through, I’ve been told it was likely something stronger than a ‘handgun.’ I’ve attached a video showing the bullet holes going through multiple walls. I was home and heard everything. I heard some loud yelling and audible anger and banging around from the person before the gunshots went off. I did not see the shooter.
No one was hit/hurt. Whether related or not, JC says they’ve been having trouble in their alley with an “abandoned RV” and with someone who has followed/harassed a neighbor. (They’ve reported the RV via Find It Fix It.) The gunfire incident number, if you have any information, is 23-129839.
(WSB photo from Saturday)
Two days after Saturday evening’s deadly shooting near Alki’s Whale Tail Park, a few updates:
-No arrests yet, according to Seattle Police. (They say the arrest of a teenager with a gun during the investigation was not related; that 15-year-old was booked into the Youth Services Center for unlawful gun possession.)
-No other information to release beyond what they said Saturday.
-The victim’s identity has not yet been released by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.
-As we noted earlier today, Parks is planning to close Alki Beach Park (and Golden Gardens) early again this summer. Here’s the announcement sent out since our inquiry:
Seattle Parks and Recreation will enact a second-phase pilot shortening the hours at Golden Gardens and Alki Beach during the 2023 summer months from 4 A.M.-10:30 P.M. from May 26-September 4. And a return to 4 A.M. – 11:30 P.M after September 5th.
The shortened hours will assist in addressing dangerous and/or illegal behavior typical of summer evening uses at these two parks in response to public input and nearby community complaints. This program is a pilot and will be reviewed at a Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners meeting after the Summer to help determine the best operating hours for the public. This review will be informed by public comments from the questionnaire below, public comment given at the Board meeting, and data collected throughout the pilot period.
During the Summer 2023 Season, Seattle Parks and Recreation staff, assisted by Seattle Police Department staff, will begin closing down these two beach locations starting at 10:00 P.M.
Public input can be provided here.
Additionally, designated fire pits will be available for beach fires this summer beginning Saturday (of Memorial Day weekend).
(The announcement seems to have some date discrepancies so we’re checking back with Parks on those.) This will be the third summer of early closings; they followed the same Memorial Day to Labor Daywindow last year; in 2021, Parks made the change after two major incidents in June of that year, the shooting that killed Tilorae Shepherd and the chaotic social-media-organized gathering that drew thousands.
5:10 PM: Parks’ announcement has the correct dates now.
Another stolen work truck – this one, reported by Tom:
My 2005 white F-250, single cab, hydraulic lift gate, with company logo (oval blue “Rainier”) on both doors, was stolen from 44th and Genesee between last night (Sunday 5/15) and early this morning before 6 am. Please keep an eye out. It is hard to miss. I suspect the logo was the first thing to go, though. It’s an older model and a little beat up, with large dents on the panels.
License plate # is B77776V. Police report # 23-132478.
Reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN CAR: In the photo above is Teresa‘s brown Kia Soul, being driven Saturday night by a thief who took it from 35th SW between Henderson and Trenton. Teresa spotted it on 29th SW by Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex: “I looked north and saw a smaller guy standing by my car on the side of the road, doors open on both sides. I was completely stupid in the moment and walked toward him, saying, ‘Hey, that’s my car,’ and he dove in, tried to run over me, and took off south down 29th. I could see him for about six blocks until he curved around on Cambridge.” Plate # is AAN6185, SPD report # is 23-131049.
CAR BREAK-INS: In that general area, with postseason sports still under way, Kamil wanted to issue this warning: “Friday there were two reported car break-ins around the SWAC softball and baseball fields. We believe it was motivated by the Metro League tournament happening at the same time, and both resulted in loss of property and broken windows.” Both happened on SW Trenton, says Kamil, who did not have a police-report # yet.
PACKAGE THEFT: From Katie in North Delridge:
Porch pirate stole a large package off my porch Saturday around noon in broad daylight. Both our security cameras caught him. White male, bald, maroon shirt, gray shorts and sneakers. Happened on 26th Ave. SW. Between Hudson and SW Alaska.
Police report # is 23-130980.
6:38 PM: Police and fire are arriving at Alki for a report of a man shot in the chest. The location has changed a few times on the SFD log – somewhere between 57th and 60th. They’re still looking for the victim but officers have told dispatch they’ve found a car, with blood in it, at Lander and Marine. Updates to come.
6:45 PM: They’ve found the victim and describe him as an “approximately 25-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the chest.” There’s reportedly a second injured person at a different scene.
6:49 PM: It’s very chaotic but responders have said they’ve only found one victim. That man is getting CPR and is with medics near 56th/Alki. Police are closing Alki Avenue from 56th to 57th “for a while.” No one is reported to be in custody so far.
6:58 PM: Added a reader photo. The victim is being taken to Harborview.
7:13 PM: We have a crew in the area. Alki is still taped off in the area.
To the east of this, police are going to block off traffic at Bonair, since they’re noting it’s difficult to turn drivers around at 55th.
7:43 PM: Commenters have noted that this happened in the Whale Tail Park vicinity – police are looking for evidence there:
This SUV nearby has bullet holes:
(Reader photo)
We’re still waiting to hear from the police PIO at the scene.
7:53 PM: After a tip, police have taken a suspect described as an armed juvenile into custody, but we don’t know yet if he’s believed to be a suspect in the shooting.
8:11 PM: The other vehicle reported to have been involved is being towed to SPD evidence processing:
A police officer is being treated nearby for some kind of minor injury.
8:22 PM: Alki Avenue will be reopened (as soon as TV crews move their cars), police say. The ongoing investigation will focus on the Whale Tail Park scene. We found this apparent bullet damage in a window nearby:
8:39 PM: SFD says the victim was still alive, in critical condition, when transported, and has an age update – “approximately 30.”
8:59 PM: Police say the victim has died. Meantime, Seattle Parks is going to close Alki for the night and police are going to start telling people to leave. (added – David Hutchinson‘s video of police announcing the closure:)
9:28 PM: We’re going to upload and add video of the media briefing with Det. Judinna Gulpan but the only additional detail was that first word of the shooting came from a Parking Enforcement Officer who happened to see it, and that they believe the victim was driven from the shooting scene by Whale Tail to the spot where medics and police found him on Alki Avenue. Otherwise, no comment on arrests, descriptions, circumstances. (added – here’s the video:)
10:09 PM: Police have just told dispatch that Alki is “pretty well cleared out.”
10:26 PM: For context, checking the archives, tonight’s victim is the first person shot at Alki since a shooting that injured two people last Halloween. This is the first deadly shooting at Alki since 22-year-old Tilorae Shepherd was killed in June 2021 (the suspect continues to await trial). However, this was the third deadly shooting in West Seattle in five weeks, after 20-year-old Ka’Don Brown was found dead April 8th on the Chief Sealth IHS campus, and 41-year-old Chad Anderson was found dead on 15th SW between Barton and Cambridge last Monday. No arrests reported in either of those cases. The SPD tipline for information on any of these cases, including tonight’s shooting death, is 206-233-5000.
ADDED 11:11 AM SUNDAY: Alki is open today as is Whale Tail Park, with people at both. The SPD mobile precinct and two KCSO Transit Police cars were parked at the beach.
MONDAY AFTERNOON: SPD says no arrests in this case yet – the juvenile-with-gun arrest mentioned above turned out to be unrelated. … Parks confirms they will close Alki early again throughout the summer, starting Memorial Day weekend – details as soon as later today. (We will have a separate followup with these updates and more.)
ADDED WEDNESDAY: Noting for the record, pending a separate story, that the victim was identified today as 25-year-old Davonte Sanchez.
Police are in the vicinity of 17th/Henderson, where they’ve confirmed gunfire – two types of shell casings were found. So far it does NOT appear anyone was shot – they’re calling SFD for other medical problems, one described as a “glass shrapnel” cut. A collision was apparently involved in this too. They’re working on a suspect description.
From Isabella:
Was taken between 7:30-9 AM off 20th and Roxbury. My contact info is 425-221-3092.
We’ll add the police-report # when we get it.
This was a case of auto theft via tow, reports Madyline, who says this happened at 9th/Kenyon in Highland Park:
Our silver Lexus ES330 with a license plate number of BRG8989 was stolen last night. There are scratches along the passenger side doors and damage to the bumper. The car was parked near our mechanics and was not in running condition. They broke a window (broken glass along the road) and then force-towed the car (there are drag marks on the road). I’m assuming that they are going to try and scrap it, so I would love tips regarding where to call around about that. Also, the items of note on the car were an orange rain jacket, and a car-seat base. Please let us know if you find either of those items dumped.
The frame grab is from a video camera at the mechanic shop, Madyline adds, showing a black pickup towing the Lexus, and, “They also dumped a trailer that they had stolen. The report number is 23-125937.”
10:38 AM: Police are investigating a robbery reported in The Admiral District, and that had West Seattle High School sheltering in place for a short time – we’re told that has just ended. The call was logged to the 2600 block of California SW, but so far we haven’t found officers in the area. We’ll add more details as we get them.
11:37 AM: We checked with businesses all around the block in person and by phone. A Safeway staffer says that the incident was at their store but says it did not turn out to be a robbery. The only element discernible from archived dispatch audio is that police were looking for a suspect described as a Black man, mid-20s, 5-8, 150 to 170 pounds, wearing a black stocking cap, black jacket, white T-shirt, blue jeans, black shoes – and carrying a crossbow.
4:48 PM: Here’s the preliminary summary from SPD:
At 0958 hours, officers responded to the 2600 block of California Ave SW where a male subject with a crossbow entered the store and stole merchandise. Staff told police the subject had an unloaded mini crossbow in his hands as he was filling his backpack. The suspect left in an unknown direction on foot prior to police arrival.
(WSB photo, January 2022)
A King County Superior Court judge has sentenced 32-year-old Timothy Clemans to just over six years for trying to take hostages at Westwood Village Target in January of last year, leading to a six-hour standoff. Clemans represented himself at trial in March, and a jury found him guilty of attempted first-degree kidnapping. Court documents from Clemans’s sentencing hearing last Friday say the only person in attendance besides court personnel was the defendant’s mother. But as we noted last month, the court received a statement from a Target employee listed as a victim in this case, saying that she believes “putting … someone mentally ill in prison for 12+ months is absolutely pointless because you wouldn’t be fixing his problems, you’d just be punishing a sick man.” Prosecutors note that Clemans was found mentally competent to stand trial, and said that although alternatives to incarceration were tried in previous cases, he was uncooperative. His prior felony convictions were for harassment and third-degree assault (backstory here). His 73.5-month sentence is the top of the standard range, 61.5 months, plus a 12-month enhancement for using a deadly weapon (a knife he had taken off a shelf in the store). Judge Marshall Ferguson‘s order also includes three years of probation (“community custody”) after Clemans gets out, and a requirement that he “comply with all recommended mental-health treatment.” He gets credit for the time he already has spent behind bars since his arrest, about a year and a third.
West Seattle High School families were notified this morning that “threats to our school” were under investigation. Thanks to the parents who shared the message sent to families by WSHS principal Brian Vance – here it is in its entirety:
Good morning West Seattle High community –
Yesterday we received several notifications regarding social media posts that included threats to our school.
We have reported these threats to Seattle Police and to the school district’s Safety & Security Department.
The most recent update is that the person who made the threats is receiving care now and we don’t believe the threats are credible.
We are ready to welcome students to school today. Thank you to all of you who reached out and to the students who brought this to the attention of a parent and/or school official.
One parent who forwarded this to us says it wasn’t sent until 7:57 am today, shortly before school started for the day. We have a question out to the district regarding why the delay, if the threats were indeed investigated starting yesterday (the police-call log shows an incident number generated just after 1 pm Sunday).
(WSB photos)
5:54 AM: Thanks for the tip. Police have taped off part of 15th SW in South Delridge. They’re investigating a deadly shooting reported in the 9200 block, between Cambridge and Barton [vicinity map], just after 3 am. More information soon.
6:09 AM: Police say the victim, a 41-year-old man, was found “lying in the road.” SPD and SFD tried to revive him but couldn’t. No one’s in custody, and there’s no word of a suspect description. They’ve been canvassing the area to see if anyone caught anything on security video. If you have any information, the tip line is 206-233-5000.
(CSI unit’s van at investigation scene)
6:36 AM: Detectives are still at the scene. This comes exactly one month after the last deadly shooting in West Seattle, that of 20-year-old Ka’Don Brown, found dead in the southwest driveway of the Chief Sealth IHS campus on April 8th, a Saturday morning. No arrest reported in that case so far.
ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: The Medical Examiner’s Office identifies the victim as 41-year-old Chad Anderson and says he died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
From Karen:
My 1979 VW Bug Convertible was stolen from a secure garage in West Seattle early morning (1:45 am) today, Sunday 5/7. If seen, please contact the police and me. 206-718-8484.
Update: police report # 23-124056, plate 67907CV.
MONDAY UPDATE: It’s been found – in Woodinville.
Nic‘s report is both a request and a reminder:
Our car was broken into in the main parking lot at Lincoln Park today around 11:30 am. The only thing taken was a black Nike Seattle University Softball backpack. Fortunately nothing of value was in it, just coaches stuff. The backpack itself was a gift from my daughter so would love to get it back if it’s found tossed somewhere. Non-emergency report has been filed.
If you think you’ve found/seen Nic’s backpack, let us know and we’ll connect you.
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