West Seattle, Washington
24 Sunday
(WSB photo, Saturday night)
9:15 PM THURSDAY: A suspect is in custody in the Roxy’s Casino shootings. That’s according to King County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Glen Brannon, White Center’s new “storefront deputy,” who just announced today’s arrest during the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting we were covering for partner site White Center Now. We’re attempting to get more details from KCSO. The deputy described the shootings as not random, and said they involved a “beef” between two people, the suspect and one of the three victims. Two other people – both casino employees – were not intended targets. (A crowdfunding page is set up for one of them, identified publicly as CJ.) The casino and adjacent Roxbury Lanes, meantime, reopened today; they had been closed since the shootings just before 11 pm Saturday.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON: KCSO’s media-relations office has confirmed the arrest but offered no details – aside from confirming that one victim has died.
(Sunday morning photo sent by Doug)
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the name of the 49-year-old man found shot to death at Don Armeni Boat Ramp early Sunday morning. He is identified as Peyman Shojaei, and his cause of death is listed as “multiple gunshot wounds.” Still no information from SPD on circumstances (we just asked again). Online research suggests Mr. Shojaei was local; his funeral is planned for next week at Forest Lawn Cemetery in High Point, and his name cross-references to an independent trucking business in North Shorewood. If you have any information about the case, SPD’s tipline is 206-233-5000.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
STOLEN BLACK KIA SOUL: From Darcie:
Vehicle stolen from Delridge Way SW & SW Brandon St between 5/30 and 5/31 7 pm-11 am. Black 2015 Kia Soul, license plate CES6260. If spotted, please report to police. Incident #23-150397
ABANDONED-LIKELY-STOLEN BICYCLE: An anonymous reader sent this photo of a bicycle seen for at least a few days apparently abandoned in the Harbor Avenue area:
Yours? Email us (westseattleblog@gmail.com) and we can connect you with more-specific location info.
Last night, around the time we were out covering the Myers Way death investigation, a police search was happening in North Admiral. It eventually involved a K-9 team, and an arrest. We asked SPD today what it was about, and here’s the response: “This was a freshly stolen vehicle in the 2300 block of 44th Ave SW around 7:15 pm. The vehicle was later found dumped in an alley. Witness info, coupled with security footage, helped an officer identify both suspects. One suspect was taken into custody in the area of California Ave SW & SW College St, while the other suspect was not located.”
From Andy:
Our 2002 Green GMC Safari with a Thule box on top was stolen on 5/30 at approximately 8:30 pm from the corner of 14th Ave SW and SW Holly St. License plate BUE1614. My phone number is 828-575-3747. Police report # 23-149896.
ADDED THURSDAY NIGHT: Update from Andy: “Van was seen and confirmed last night at the Westwood Court Apartments behind Staples. Thule box was removed and bike rack was removed. Van may have been spray painted. Please look out for a freshly spray painted GMC Safari with a small lift. Contact Andy at 828 -575 -3747.”
FRIDAY UPDATE: Andy says the van’s been found, in Burien.
9:10 PM: Police have converged on the unsanctioned encampment on the east side of Myers Way, across from the Arrowhead Gardens senior-living complex. They say they’re investigating a death – a man was found dead, “circumstances inknown.” We are at the scene trying to find out more.
9:17 PM: Homicide detectives have arrived.
9:46 PM: SPD spokesperson Det. Judinna Gulpan told us at the scene that this was originally called in as some kind of gunfire incident; the man who was found dead had some “signs of trauma,” but that’s all they’re saying right now. It happened somewhere deep within the extensive encampment, which was the subject of a meeting with police, other city reps, and concerned Arrowhead Gardens residents (WSB coverage here) just three weeks ago.
(WSB photo, Saturday night)
We’ve been seeking followup information today on Saturday night’s three shootings in our area. Law enforcement isn’t releasing any new information in any of the cases. But we’ve learned that the condition of another of the three Roxy’s Casino shooting victims has improved. Harborview Medical Center told us yesterday that the female victim had improved to serious condition, while the two men remained in critical condition; when we checked again this afternoon, HMC said one of the men also has improved to serious condition, leaving one man still critical. The victims have not been publicly identified; WSB commenters say the woman and one man are casino employees. King County Sheriff’s Office detectives continue to investigate the shooting, which was reported just before 11 pm Saturday. The only public comment from Roxy’s/Roxbury Lanes, via social media: “We’re remaining closed until Thursday, June 1st. We’re still processing and coping with the tragic event. There are no words except we want to thank the community for commenting, calling and showing support.”
6:58 PM: We’ve received multiple reports of a wave of graffiti vandalism overnight on the north end of The Junction, on both residential and business buildings.. This report and the photos are from Corey; our policy is to generally not show tagging in full, so we’ve cropped the photos to show just part of the damage. Corey writes:
Some punk went on an absolute graffiti rampage and tagged nearly every building north of the Junction. He got our building too.
Fortunately, the graffiti was on the glass, opposed to the brick like some of our neighbors. I cleaned the graffiti off the glass immediately since I cannot stand to look at this. I wonder if there is something we could collectively do as West Seattle residents to keep an eye out for this activity and call 911 if we see it.
Yes, police DO respond to vandalism-in-progress calls, depending on what else they’re dealing with. Even if you don’t catch it in progress, report it – and after it’s been photographed, remove it as soon as you can, as that’s considered an effective way to dissuade the vandal(s).
9:23 PM: This video shows some of the vandalism – one person etching glass on a building at California/Genesee while another spray-paints:
Four reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
VESPA STOLEN AFTER COLLISION: On Friday night, we mentioned a South Delridge collision that left a Vespa rider injured. Today, the rider emailed to report that their Vespa was stolen after the collision:
On Friday, 5/26 around 9 pm I was riding my 1981 Vespa P200e home on SW Delridge. I lost control when the car in front of me made a sudden stop and when I stopped, my scooter fishtailed and I fell off. I hit my head and was unconscious. Should have been wearing my full face.
Fire and emergency were called. I was taken to the hospital and provided care at Harborview.
SPD rolled my collector vehicle Vespa to the sidewalk on SW Trenton and SW Delridge and left it there with no intent of telling me where it was or notifying an emergency contact, or impoundment. I was even informed by the reporting Officer that the Sergeant said to leave it.
It was stolen from the sidewalk while I was unconscious.
I want my scooter back. It means more to me than anything else in the world.
Monday update: The scooter owner found it – repainted and resold – spotting it being driven around.
PRIDE FLAG STOLEN FROM SCHOOL: From Whitney at the Community School of West Seattle (22nd/Roxbury):
Community School of West Seattle’s Pride Flag was removed/stolen (Saturday) night and the flag pole was damaged.
PLANTS STOLEN FROM GARDEN: A North Admiral resident reports:
I had quite a theft of plants in my yard & was wondering if anyone else had this. Some had been there for prob 60 years & others for around 15 years. Just about wiped out one part of south side garden of all herbs and flowers, took ferns on other side of house plus stones.
DUMPED/POSSIBLY STOLEN: Reported by Katherine:
I found a debit card and some keys with an AirTag in the bushes by my house. Looks like they may have been stolen and dumped. The keys have an AirTag with initials. The debit card first name is Z—— and a photo of the keys is below.
I’m happy to reconnect them with the owner/owners, if they can provide a last name or the initials on the air tag.
Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you.
(Saturday morning photo from Gary)
Early Saturday, after numerous texts, we reported on what turned out to be a Washington State Patrol aircraft circling in multiple areas of West Seattle. We also showed its flight path, looping over other areas of the county before coming here. Commenters added word of WSP on the ground in Seaview (and, as shown above, a photo). Today a WSP news release explains it all (West Seattle is the second case):
Just after 1:00 am yesterday morning, May 27, 2023, Washington State Patrol (WSP) troopers were involved in two incidents in which drivers fled from attempted traffic stops.
Eluding #1 – A Pontiac G8 fled from an attempted traffic stop NB SR 167 near 212th in Kent. WSP aircraft followed as the vehicle took the exit to 180th where it got caught up in traffic allowing the ground units to contact the vehicle. The driver was arrested for Felony Eluding and the 17 year old passenger was arrested for illegal possession of a handgun.
Eluding #2 – This occurred in nearly the same location – NB SR 167 approaching I-405 – when two Infiniti sedans were observed at a high rate and fled from an attempted traffic stop. WSP aircraft was able to locate one of the vehicles and began following the vehicle and communicating to the ground units on the direction of travel. The Infiniti continued NB on I-405 to WB I-90, at times turning all lights off and driving in an extremely reckless manner even though there was NO pursuit. WSP aircraft followed the vehicle all the way to SB I-5, then the West Seattle Freeway into West Seattle, where the car was abandoned in an alley. Ground units were guided to the area and were able to place the driver and passenger that fled on foot into custody.
These two incidents display the use of the Aviation Section of the Washington State Patrol as paramount to holding suspects accountable that choose to flee from law enforcement. This creates the safest way possible to reach the goal of safety for all and create a deterrent for this illegal and unsafe behavior. The communication and coordination between the aircraft, WSP District 2/King County ground units and local law enforcement partners allows for this accountability and WILL continue.
We’ll be following up on the people arrested in West Seattle.
6:30 AM: Thanks to Stewart L. for the photos. Homicide and CSI detectives are at Don Armeni Boat Ramp after a shooting victim was found dead.
It happened around 4 am – the initial SFD dispatch was that “armed security found a man down and a bullet nearby.” They tried CPR but it was too late. We’ve just talked with SPD spokesperson Officer Shawn Weismiller, who confirms that a male victim was found dead, and no one is in custody. No other details on the circumstances yet. This was the third shooting incident in our area in the span of five hours, after the Roxy’s Casino and Lincoln Park incidents. And it’s the fourth deadly shooting that SPD has investigated in West Seattle in less than two months, with no arrests in any of these cases yet – 20-year-old Ka’Don Brown, found dead on the Chief Sealth IHS campus April 8th; 41-year-old Chad Anderson, found dead on 15th SW in South Delridge on May 8th; and 25-year-old Davonté Sanchez, killed near Alki’s Whale Tail Park on May 13th.
7:11 AM: The Medical Examiner’s Office has arrived on scene, as shown in that photo from Doug, who says police are asking nearby residents if they saw anything or have any video that might show what happened. The victim was found by the path along the south-end vehicle parking spaces. If you have video or other information for investigators, the SPD tip line is 206-233-5000.
ADDED 9:18 AM: SPD says the victim was 49 years old.
11:53 PM: Police checking out reports of gunfire in the Lincoln Park area have found casings in one of the parking lots and one person who is wounded, found just east of the park near 46th/Rose. Updates to come.
11:57 PM: They’re also reporting at least one house hit by gunfire, 8000 block of Fauntleroy Way (right across from the park). Officers have told dispatch they’ve recovered five .45 casings so far. Meantime, the injured person is reported to have been shot in the leg. (Update: Knee.)
(Added: SPD photo)
12:06 AM: Police are reporting a “second scene” in the park, finding shell casings by the baseball diamond.
12:15 AM: According to an SFD radio transmission, the shooting victim is a 15-year-old boy.
12:36 AM: Officers told dispatch that they were told several people in the park were “firing guns into the air.” The victim, meantime, has been taken to the hospital.
12:43 AM: Officers say they have collected six .45 casings from the north parking lot.
11:04 PM: King County Sheriff’s deputies are getting assistance from Seattle Police responding to a report of a shooting victim at or near Roxy’s Casino (28th/Roxbury). No other details yet.
11:26 PM: We don’t have information on the victim’s condition but per SPD, KCSO has one suspect in custody.
11:30 PM: A reader who says he was in the casino when it happened just called. He says three people were shot.
12:24 AM: Our photographer is just back from the scene. KCSO is not commenting, saying they’ll “issue a statement” at some point. Meantime, commenters who were there say one victim died at the scene.
3:30 AM: No statement yet.
7:55 AM: From KCSO Sgt. Eric White :
What we do know at this point is that around 2248 hours last night an unknown person came into Roxbury Lanes Casino located at the 2800 block of SW Roxbury Street in Unincorporated King County and began shooting. KCSO Deputies from White Center, Burien, Sea Tac, Metro and Sound Transit Divisions responded to the scene. As many as three victims were reported to have sustained injuries, and were transported to Harborview Hospital for their injuries. KCSO Major Crimes Detectives responded to the scene. The suspect in this is still at large. This case is still an active and open investigation.
ADDED MONDAY: Though Harborview Medical Center usually won’t provide the media with updates on patient conditions without names, they are making an exception in this case. HMC spokesperson Susan Gregg tells WSB that 2 men are in critical condition and one woman is in serious condition. … Also, the casino, bowling alley, and restaurant plan to remain closed until Thursday.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
OFFICERS ASSAULTED: A 24-year-old man is in the King County Jail for investigation of assault, malicious harassment, and burglary after an early morning incident in Fauntleroy. The SPD preliminary summary says this happened just after 1 am:
Officers responded to the 9300 block of Fauntleroy Way SW after a 911 caller reported a man trying to break down their door, and then attempting to break into another property at the same location. When contacted by police, the suspect assaulted officers as they took him into custody. Three officers sustained minor injuries and were treated by Seattle Fire at the scene.
STOLEN CROWN VICTORIA: Shannon‘s father’s car was stolen near White Center overnight:
Police case number: 23-144960
License plate number: CCX3694
Car color, model, and year: 2009 white Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
Car Identifiers: 2 spotlights and a wraparound push bar in the front of the car
For the second time in three days, we have a reader report about a stolen Jeep Wrangler. This time, from Caitlyn:
Date: 5/25-5/26 between 5 pm and 8 am
Location: 42nd and Genesee, car was parked in front of the West Seattle Christian Church.
Vehicle: 2001 Jeep Wrangler, dark blue, hard top.
Vehicle was locked and no keys were inside.
License: CFV5778
If you have a sighting to call in to police, the report # to refer to is 23-144737.
Two reader reports in Crime Watch this afternoon.
CAR-WASH ASSAULT: This happened in White Center but the victim’s mom wanted to get the word out widely:
I just wanted to make readers aware that there is risk of assault at the Car Palace car wash [10450 16th SW]. Two weeks ago, my 19-year old daughter was getting coins from the bill changer at the car wash. It was about 10 am.
She was groped from behind by a man who was about 5’5″ with dark hair. He was filming himself groping her with his camera. When she yelled, he took off running. She was so upset that she unwisely leapt into her car to follow him.
She followed him in her car to a nearby street where he hid under a bush. She then called her dad, who called the police. They saw the man enter a house nearby. They waited for 3 hours for the police, or in this case the sheriff, but no one came. There is currently just one car assigned to White Center.
Last night, the sheriff’s deputy came to interview my daughter. They cannot interview the suspect until the single deputy gets a partner for safety reasons.
At the very least, we’d like to warn other women that Car Palace may not be safe when you are alone, even in broad daylight on a busy street.
(Update: Incident # C23017252.) We’re checking on the KCSO staffing situation, as they recently assigned a new “storefront deputy,” according to briefings at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, which we cover monthly for partner site White Center Now.
CAR-THEFT ATTEMPT: The photo and report are also via email:
On May 21, my car was vandalized in an attempted auto theft on 56th and Alki (and is not functional as the result of an attempted theft and damaged ignition). Attached is a picture. The car was parked outside my residence, and I feel showing this information on West Seattle Blog is instructive for others. A police report was filed.
We’ll add the report number when we get it. (UPDATE: It’s 23-139708.)
Here’s another stolen vehicle whose owner hopes you might help find it – Chris sent the photo and report:
2000 Ford F-250 XLT Regular Cab Long Bed
Color: Gold
Stolen between 8 am and 10 am on Wednesday 5/24
40th SW between Brandon and FindlayIt still had a dealer plate on it (Marketplace Auto) but with a temporary License #A6347336 (where they put a paper in the window).
(Images from charging documents, suspect at West Seattle Target allegedly using stolen card)
A suspect in the theft of multiple US Postal Service vehicles and mail – including two West Seattle incidents on which we reported in January – is due in court this afternoon on federal charges. Here’s the announcement from the US Attorney’s Office (we’ve marked the West Seattle-relevant paragraph in bold):
The suspect in a series of mail vehicle and mail key thefts was arrested today on a federal complaint charging him with theft of mail and possession of stolen mail, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.
Johny Mixayboua, 27, is accused of a string of mail theft incidents involving stolen postal vehicles, stolen postal keys, mail theft, and associated crimes such as identity theft. Mixayboua will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00 today.
According to the criminal complaint, on December 28, 2022, a U.S. Postal Service vehicle was stolen from the 6300 block of South Bangor Street in Seattle. In the vehicle was a postal key that is used to access the cluster mailbox units in the 98178 zip code. The key allows the postal worker to open the back of the cluster box to deliver mail to multiple households. Since the theft of the vehicle and postal key, there have been numerous reports of cluster boxes in zip code 98178 being opened and mail stolen.
Working with neighbors, the Postal Inspection Service was able to get door camera footage showing the person accessing the postal boxes. Neighbors reported credit cards being stolen and attempts being made to use them. Inspectors were able to review images from when the credit card attempts occurred and ultimately identified Mixayboua as the person stealing the mail and attempting to use the stolen credit cards.
Additionally, local law enforcement determined that vehicles used in a number of the mail theft incidents were reported stolen.
On January 17, 2023, two more Postal Service vehicles were stolen. One in the 3000 block of Beach Drive SW and a second one in the 3600 block of 57th SW. Both are in zip code 98116. Using doorbell camera footage from the block where one of the vehicles were recovered, investigators allegedly saw Mixayboua removing mail and parcels from the stolen postal vehicle and putting them in another vehicle. Again, law enforcement traced credit cards stolen from the mail and obtained surveillance footage that appears to show Mixayboua attempting to make purchases with the credit cards.
On January 30, 2023, a fourth postal vehicle was stolen – this time from the 2000 block of S. Columbian Way in Seattle. On March 28, 2023, a fifth postal vehicle was stolen from the 5700 block of S. 129th Ave. One of the people associated with the theft matches a description of Mixayboua.
In late January and February, the mail theft incidents continued — this time in the Snoqualmie area. The cluster boxes were opened with either a counterfeit or authentic postal key. Again, credit cards were stolen, and one was linked to images of Mixayboua making purchases at Target.
Throughout April, mail thefts continued from as far north as Lake Forest Park and as far south as southeast Seattle.
The postal service halted deliveries in zip code 98118 for about a week while investigators worked to track down and arrest Mixayboua.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) has worked diligently to get Mixayboua and his coconspirators into custody. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elyne Vaught.
We’ve just taken a first run through the charging documents; they note that Mixayboua used a stolen credit card for purchasing items from at least three stores and one gas station in West Seattle. We’re still researching and will add anything more of West Seattle relevance here. He is charged with two federal counts, mail theft and possession of stolen mail, so far.
ADDED 12:13 PM: Mixayboua has eight auto-theft-related cases on record in King County, between 2014 and 2018. In the documents for the most-recent case, he was described as a “prolific auto-theft suspect throughout King County.” The 2018 case involved three auto-theft-related counts and one count of eluding; he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
From Castle:
2003 Jeep Wrangler TJ
Stolen from 5611 California Ave SW
5/22/23
License # AAV0983
Case # 23-140296
Bumper sticker ‘Eddie Would Go’
Another Kia theft. This report is from KG:
Stolen 2014 white Kia Sorento. Plates AVL7377. Last seen May 23 [today] around 10 am by SW Admiral Way & 60th Ave SW. Police Report # 23-141978. If seen, please call 911.
For almost three years now, intrepid artists affiliated with Highland Park Improvement Club have been creating A-board art installations outside the fire-shuttered HPIC building at 12th/Holden. This started when SW Holden was traffic-jammed during the bridge closure, and has continued. But today, one of the boards has disappeared. Kay @ HPIC hopes you can help find it:
Someone has made off with one of the HPIC A-Frame signs. Our volunteers complete these as a set and we need all of them to tell our stories. Hoping someone just pulled up and tossed elsewhere! Folks can email us at hpic1919 (at) gmail.com if they see it, and a volunteer can come pick up.
HPIC’s first A-board art installation went up in August 2020, and the art has changed several times since then.
From Phoebe:
2011 Infiniti G37 Sport – 4-door with silver lining and white interior. Stolen last night around 8 from just outside Hall at Fauntleroy – if seen please call 911. License # CGH4399. Police report # 23-141027
5:07 PM: Matt reports this happened around 3 pm today:
During our CYO Pentathlon event at West Seattle Stadium, two parents were bear-maced when they encountered someone stealing catalytic converters in the parking lot. One car had one taken, one car partially damaged when the theft was interrupted.
911 called for paramedics and police. Parents are both as okay as they can be after being maced in the face. Police are off tracking the truck – they believe they saw it hanging around Alki earlier. Picture of the person and their truck attached.
We don’t have the report # yet but if you think you’ve seen the truck, call 911.
ADDED 5:46 PM: Report # is 23-139719.
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