West Seattle, Washington
23 Saturday
Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
ARSON INVESTIGATION: In our coverage of a small fire at a vacant house in Westwood on Saturday night, we noted that SFD’s investigator had requested police assistance. Today SFD confirms the fire was determined to have been “intentionally set.” No other information so far but if you have tips for investigators, the SPD incident # is 24-276472.
TRUCK BREAK-INS: Sent by a reader:
On 1600 block of 42nd Ave SW and on Palm Ave SW, we had vehicle prowls last night with windows broken out and one vehicle we know of had the ignition punched out. From what we heard from other neighbors urther north on Palm Ave, it appears that these criminals are only targeting trucks. Other vehicles were not touched. The vehicles on 42nd and Palm hit were all trucks. We know for sure of 6.
CAR BREAK-IN: Sent by Katie:
We live on SW Grayson near 51st and someone went through our unlocked Honda Accord last night, parked on the street in front of our house – nothing to take except there might have been some loose small amount of cash.
Saw at least 3 cars with smashed out windows along 49th on our way to/from school at Schmitz Park/Alki Elementary.
Two reader reports today, both thefts in unexpected circumstances, both sent by people named Sarah:
STOLEN WHILE LOADING: Thefts of items left in vehicles for hours aren’t surprising. Sarah H did not expect this theft to happen during the process of loading up for an outing:
This morning as we were about to leave for a backpacking trip, both our backpacks full of camping gear were stolen from in front of our house between 7:06 and 7:08 am as we were loading our car near PCC. It happened so fast that we believe it was a vehicle driving by, as we essentially had our backs turned. The backpacks are teal green (Osprey) and a gray/black (Gregory). If you happen to have any sightings or camera footage, please let us know. Most of our backpacking gear was from our wedding registry and we are heartbroken!
(added) Police report # is 24-275862.
(added) Sarah H’s stove was found by commenter Tom. They’ve connected. One more detail: They believe the thieves were in a “beige or silver 4-door sedan.”
STOLEN WHILE CHARGING: We’ve heard of public-charger cord thefts, but not so much the type of theft Sarah D is reporting:
Yesterday I went outside and found that someone had stolen my electric plug to my car. It was plugged into my electric car and a box on the street. I live on 40th Ave SW. Only reporting because other people leave their plugs in their cars overnight and wanted people to be aware.
(WSB photo, this morning)
Two days after 32-year-old Laupule Talaga was shot and killed, a memorial of flowers and candles sits outside a door at Distinguished Foods, which rented space to his employer, Seattle Soul Kitchen. Police have nothing new to report publicly in their search for the person who entered the building at 4611 36th SW around 4 pm Wednesday and shot Mr. Talaga multiple times.
(WSB photo, Wednesday)
Seattle Soul Kitchen remains closed, but otherwise Distinguished Foods is open, according to a spokesperson for the kitchen-rental business, which sent this statement today:
… Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and friends as they navigate this unimaginable loss. In moments like these, words fall short, but we offer our sincerest condolences and unwavering support to those affected by this senseless act of violence.
We are incredibly thankful that no further injuries occurred, and we extend our gratitude to the first responders and community members who acted swiftly in the face of tragedy. The safety and well-being of our community are our highest priorities, and we stand with West Seattle as we collectively heal from this event.
To that last point, we asked if any security measures were planned; the spokesperson replied, “We are actively evaluating measures to enhance the safety of the building. This was a targeted incident, and while we continue to prioritize the safety of our tenants, customers, and employees, it appears there was little we could have done to prevent it.”
Seattle Soul Kitchen said via social media that Mr. Talaga was a father of three, and pleaded, “We call for peace in our streets and an end to the violence. It’s time to heal, time to put down the guns, time to live for our family and friends.” We asked Distinguished Foods if they knew of any crowdfunding to help the victim’s family; so far, no.
Two reader reports:
STOLEN MINIVAN: Sent by Kelly:
Sometime between yesterday evening and today (Friday) 10:30 am, a 2014 Mazda 5 was stolen from the first block of Hudson off California (the west side of California). It is a less than perfect looking silver older, small minivan. My niece had $1000 worth of work done on the car in BC, just days ago. Ohio license plates.
They’re awaiting the report number; call 911 if you find it. (Update: SPD incident # 24-275015)
POSSIBLY ABANDONED MOTORCYCLE: A reader says this has been in the same spot for more than a month:
My best guess is it looks like a 1980 Honda CB400T with a bit of custom work – and a slow oil leak. Maybe someone is missing their project bike?
If it’s yours and indeed stolen, let us know.
A reader sent this from southwest Morgan Junction:
On Wednesday night we (my 9-year-old and I) came upon this guy attaching my rooftop carrier to his own car. Stolen from top of my car with a tool that he left at scene. Fauntleroy at Holly SW. He was late 20s/early 30s with a woman in the car too. Sped away in a very loud Mercedes, all-black super-tinted. No front plate, rear was obscured in image.
Police report # is 24-940633.
(Added: WSB photo)
3:57 PM: Police and fire are responding to a reported shooting in the 4600 block of 36th SW [vicinity map]. The victim is reported to be a man, with multiple gunshot wounds. The person who shot him is described as a Black man, late 20s to early 30s, all black clothing, white face mask, last seen running toward SW Snoqualmie. The victim is reported to be at the commissary kitchens across from the YMCA, though we don’t yet know if that’s where he was shot. Updates to come.
4:06 PM: The victim is reported to be in his (updated) 30s and conscious. SFD medics are treating him.
4:14 PM: He’ll be taken to Harborview Medical Center; medics say he was shot four times. The description of the shooter has been updated to add thin, tall, black hoodie and jeans, blue surgical mask.
4:25 PM: Our crew has confirmed the shooting happened inside the building at Distinguished Foods, which houses multiple small food businesses. We don’t know what if any relationship the victim has to any of them. Meantime, readers have pointed out that the West Seattle YMCA across the street went into lockdown as a precaution.
5:40 PM: Awaiting media briefing. SFD says the victim was in serious condition when transported.
7:11 PM: Finally just got media briefing. Sgt. Patrick Michaud says the victim has died. Description of his killer is the same as we mentioned above. The shooting happened in the building. We’ll upload full video of the briefing as soon as our crew is back at HQ.
7:41 PM: Here’s what else Sgt. Michaud told us (video added):
The (updated) 29-year-old victim was an employee of one of the businesses in the building, though he didn’t know which one. They’re not sure yet if this was random or targeted; there were other people in the room when the killer came in – entering through “the back kitchen door,” which was open – and shot the victim. The killer left on foot but as for whether he then got into a vehicle and left the area, they have “conflicting information,” with “several different car descriptions” – he said detectives are reviewing video from buildings in the area to find more clues. They have not found the gun that was used. If you have any information, call the SPD tipline at 206-233-5000.
12:36 AM: Thanks to the texter and commenter who report that the last police at the scene left before midnight and 36th reopened.
SIDE NOTE: This is the fourth homicide of 2024 in West Seattle, after 15-year-old Mobarak Adam‘s shooting death at Southwest Pool/Teen Center in January, 22-year-old Luis Solis Lara‘s shooting death on Duwamish Head in June, and 53-year-old William Tappe‘s beating death in the east Junction area in June. No arrests to date in either of the first two; in the third, as we first reported when the case came to light belatedly in July, 30-year-old Kyle Castillo is charged and out on $2 million bail.
THURSDAY 3:38 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identifies the victim as 32-year-old Laupule Talaga. (added) A commenter points out that one of the businesses that rents space at Distinguished Foods, Seattle Soul Kitchen, has posted on social media that the victim was an employee of theirs, a father of three, and that they believe he was targeted.
Two reader reports involving theft:
STOLEN MAIL FOUND: The report was sent by Peggy:
A pile of stolen, pilfered, destroyed mail was found on 28th Ave SW near Roxbury on Mon the 23rd, after PO hours, so was turned in to the Westwood PO [Tuesday]. All addresses were to 30th Ave SW. so if important mail hasn’t arrived, contact the PO.
STOLEN MOTORCYCLE STILL MISSING: Nine days after Mario‘s motorcycle was stolen, he’s hoping someone’s seen it:
Stolen 2023 Yamaha YZFR7 – plate 3K0469 – last seen in West Seattle (Fauntleroy/Alaska) on Sep. 17th around 7:30 am. Has rear fender delete, mirror eliminators, black brushed metallic wrap on most of the fairings as well as wind screen.
We’ll add the police report # when we get it.
Three Crime Watch notes:
CARJACKING ATTEMPT REPORTED: If you noticed police in The Junction this past hour, they were investigating a reported carjacking attempt. According to police radio, it was reported near California/Oregon, where the victim was assaulted by two people who tried to steal his car. They eventually left without the car and walked toward a bus stop. One of the attackers was a woman, and police are questioning a possible suspect; they have not found the male attacker, described only as white, in his 30s, white shirt, blue jeans. We’ll follow up with police later, once this is all sorted out.
ADDED WEDNESDAY 1 PM: We’ve obtained the police summary:
On September 24 at about 7:00 p.m., Seattle police responded to the report of an attempted robbery. The victim, a 22-year-old man, was doing a delivery near California Ave SW/SW Oregon St. The victim returned to his vehicle and saw a male in the driver’s seat, and a female in the back seat. The victim got inside his vehicle and attempted to grab the keys out of the ignition. The male suspect punched the victim a couple of times trying to steal his vehicle. The suspects fled from the vehicle on foot. SPD arrived and contacted a possible suspect at California Ave SW/SW Alaska St, but the victim [could not identify her]. The male suspect wasn’t located.
GAS THEFT: Reported by Joanna:
39th and Admiral on 9/24/24 at approx 5 am according to Ring footage, vandals drilled a hole in the gas tank of an F-150 parked on the street and siphoned the gas out. Luckily gas was smelled and investigated by neighbors before the owners drove the truck. A homemade funnel was found discarded near the intersection at Admiral.
RELEASED: Back in mid-July, we reported on the arrest of a 33-year-old man suspected in Highland Park burglary attempts (including one caught on video). Tonight, the man who was arrested, Vernon Jackson, is out of jail after two and a half months. Court records show he eventually was charged in Municipal Court and pleaded guilty to trespassing and property destruction as part of a plea bargain in which three other misdemeanors were dismissed. With those pleas, today he was sentenced to time in jail equal to what he already had served, and was released after the hearing.
Jane‘s e-bike was stolen overnight in the north Morgan Junction area:
My Rad Runner Plus was stolen from in front of my condo — 44th Ave between Juneau and Raymond St. My neighbor had this video of the thieves taking it at 4:18 am:
It was locked to itself and didn’t have the battery on it. My condo isn’t visible from the street. At any rate, it’s a silver Rad Runner Plus, with brown saddle bags, seats, handlebars.
It had a green rubber monster attached to the kid’s grab bar on the back for my son. I also just had hydraulic brakes installed for added safety. My son and I are heartbroken and would love any help the community can provide in locating our bike.
Police report # is 24-271836.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
STOLEN SKATEBOARD: The report and photo are from Jen:
I wanted to report a car break-in that occurred sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning on Kenyon and 32nd. Stolen items include a Car Battery Jump Starter 12V battery pack, everything in the center console, and a newer Baker skateboard. Everything can be replaced, but the skateboard was a gift, and it would be great to get it back if anyone happens to spot it.
PACKAGE THEFT: The report and photo are from Robert:
We discovered these packages on the street walking home from Junction. We left them at the address on the packages [near where they were found by the curb, in south Morgan Junction/lower Gatewood]. There was a puzzle left, but whatever else was in these was missing. A neighbor came out and moved the packages inside a gate across from the mailboxes.
Two readers emailed this afternoon about bicycle thefts:
BLUE CANNONDALE: Reported by Alyssa:
STOLEN FROM 42nd AND GRAHAM – BLUE CANNONDALE gravel bike with PINK pedals
I believe sometime last night 9/20 or this morning 9/21 someone came into my gated yard and took my Cannondale, BLUE bike with PINK pedals. This would have been obstructed from view from the road and someone would have been having to look through my wood fence to see it. I had set it out for a bike ride today with my son. I’m devastated – I know it’s just a bike, but it’s one of my favorite activities to share with my son.
Please be on the lookout! It’s a unique-looking bike. I’m a single mom and can’t afford to replace it at this time.
Police report [temporary] no. T00011594
Or text/call me at 425-623-7903 if seen!
ADDED: As discussed in comments, the bike thief is shown on home-security video (second clip in the series).
GREEN RADRUNNER 3: Jacob says he was at home when someone stole his e-bike from his garage in Fauntleroy earlier this afternoon:
Wanted to give a heads-up that on 9/21 @ 1:30 pm, a lady walked by our home (in the 4000 block of) SW Director, hopped in our green RadRunner 3 e-bike and headed toward the ferry. My neighbor watched it all happen, jumped in the car to chase, but she was gone. I notified the police as the bike was worth ~$2k. This was broad daylight, on Barton street. Garage was open from doing yard work and we were home and in/out of house. Only knew because my neighbor saw it happen.
We’ll add the police report when we get it. (ADDED: It’s 24-268956.)
As mentioned in the previous story, a car was stolen overnight in the same neighborhood where another presumably stolen car was dumped. Now we have the info on the car that was taken: Aaron says it’s a 2014 Kia Soul resembling this stock photo; it was taken from Walnut Avenue SW: “The license plate is BMV1261 and the police case number is 24–268655. It has a Coachella Firebird sticker on the back windshield.” If you see it, call 911.
Looking for this car? Tom sent the photo:
There is a Hyundai Tucson with 90-day tags and the engine still running at Walnut and Hinds (on Hinds). Window is smashed so it looks stolen. Other neighbor’s car was stolen on the block too.
We’re expecting info from that neighbor and will post separately when received. We’re told the same area had multiple car prowls overnight too.
Three Crime Watch notes tonight:
APARTMENT MAILBOX BREAK-INS: Emailed by an anonymous reader:
Security Cameras at Olympic Manor Apartments, 3504 SW Webster St., caught this individual prying open mailboxes at 5:30 am Thursday 9/19.
Incident reported to SPD, tracking number T00011409.
CAR PROWLER: Emailed by CJ:
(The blurred face is how the video was when we received it.) CJ says, “Caught this guy on camera trying car doors Monday 9/16 at about 6 am in the 6700 block of Heights.”
‘PROLIFIC OFFENDER’ FOLLOWUP: Three weeks ago, we reported on the latest arrest of 31-year-old Casey Carlstedt, who’s been mentioned here several times over the past seven years and has been described by authorities as a “prolific offender.” In late August, he was arrested after a foot pursuit near The Junction, and booked into jail, eventually charged with violating a protection order and obstructing an officer. He was in jail at the Regional Justice Center in Kent until last Thursday, when he was released into the custody of a company that provides behavioral-health and addiction-treatment services in Eastern Washington, so he could enter inpatient treatment. Court documents say this was over the objections of the City Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the latest cases against him. His next scheduled hearing is in early November.
8:52 PM: Police are investigating two armed robberies reported in Delridge minutes apart in the past half-hour – whether they’re related is not yet clear. Here’s the early information via police radio – the first one was a street robbery near Delridge/Findlay; the robber is described as Black, male, late teens, braces, black beanie, Nike jacket, dark shoes. The second one was reported to have happened at the Delridge/Andover Subway shop, with two robbers, described as Black, male, 20s, 6′, thin, both in black masks, one with a black hoodie, one in a red hoodie. A K-9 team is joining at least one of the searches, so people in the area will be hearing some “siren trips” (a required warning). If you have any information, call 911. (The robbery near Delridge/Findlay is SPD incident 24-263019, the one near Delridge/Andover is 24-263022.)
10:14 PM: No luck in the searches here but South Precinct police are now investigating a robbery in which the robbers match the description of the two in the Subway holdup here. They might be associated with a vehicle described as a white RAV-4.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: Police summaries reveal a few more details:
-The street robbery victim reported being held up at gunpoint after they got off a Metro bus in the 5400 block of Delridge. They said they were rushed by the robber, who pointed a gun at the and demanded their earbuds.
-Four minutes later, the robbery at Subway was reported. Police say the robbers pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money from the till; they also got away with the employee’s wallet containing cash, cards, and ID.
Matt is hoping someone will see his stolen pickup:
Stolen from the 26th & Hudson area, just off Delridge Way. Stolen overnight, found it missing this morning & reported it to police.
The truck was parked directly in front of our house, with clear line of visibility from the main living room window, and we slept with the windows open. Neither we nor the neighbors heard a peep.
This truck has immense sentimental value to me, as it was previously my father’s, and I’d hoped to own it for many years to come.
2001 F-350 XLT (four-door, diesel, full bed, aftermarket dual hoodscoop hood), dark red. Plate D13678D. I only have 7 days before the insurance will write it off and I have no chance of getting it back. Hopefully someone sees it soon and I can get it back, fix it, and get back on the road.
Call 911 if you see it.
This was unfolding just as the Delridge incident (unrelated) was winding down, so we’ve gone back into the emergency-radio archives to catch up. 911 got multiple reports of suspected gunfire along SW Brandon between 26th and 30th just before 8:30 pm. Officers told dispatch they four 9mm casings. No reports of injuries.
6:07 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “scenes of violence” response to the Westwood area for a report that a woman has been stabbed. SFD is staging near 30th/Trenton but police are also responding to a scene on Cloverdale, and have a possible suspect detained.
6:12 PM: We don’t yet know exactly where it happened; circumstances sound relatively chaotic. Police are also checking on a report of a fight near the 26th/Trenton RV encampment.
(Added: WSB photos)
6:23 PM: Our crew reports a woman being treated on Trenton and is headed over to the 24th/Cloverdale scene where a man is reported to have a stab wound to the knee. No life-threatening wounds reported; the weapon is described as scissors. The circumstances now are being referred to as “domestic violence.”
6:33 PM: That’s also what a police sergeant tells us at the scene, adding that the man in custody, suspected of attacking the injured woman, is the man with a leg wound.
ADDED: SFD said both were in stable condition when taken to Harborview; the man is 26, the woman 24.
(SDOT camera image from shortly after crash)
A year and a half after two 18-year-olds died when a wrong-way, high-speed DUI driver hit them on the West Seattle Bridge, their killer is awaiting sentencing. After a reader question today, we checked on the status of 37-year-old Delfino Lopez-Morales, charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving two and a half months after the crash, and discovered he pleaded guilty to all charges last month. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November for killing Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, both from Snohomish County and on their way to Alki shortly after 12 am March 22, 2023, to celebrate Riley’s birthday, when Lopez-Morales hit them head-on going 100 mph. Three hours after the crash, he tested at a blood-alcohol level of .14, nearly twice the legal limit, and was shown to have recently consumed THC as well. He was in the hospital for weeks after the crash, and charges were filed before he was moved to jail. Case documents from his plea agreement say the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will recommend 11 years, 4 months in prison – the top of the standard sentencing range for vehicular homicide – followed by one year in jail for the reckless-driving count, plus 18 months probation. Documents say Lopez-Morales, who had been living with his disabled father in the Westwood area, was not licensed to drive; his record only shows a citation for driving without insurance in 2016; the pickup truck in which he hit the victims was borrowed from a friend. King County Superior Court Judge Angela Kaake will sentence him at 1 pm November 1.
Police are investigating an armed robbery that happened at the 35th/Barton 7-11 store around midnight. The clerk reported being held up at gunpoint by a man described as white, wearing a black or blue mask, black coat, and blue pants. He was reported to stolen the store’s “cash box” before leaving on foot, headed southbound on 35th. The clerk was not reported injured. The robber also apparently took the clerk’s cell phone, which was just found nearby. If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 24-256968.
Last Thursday, in a comment on an update about city plans to clear the SW Trenton RV encampment, a commenter mentioned police arresting someone that morning. We now have some information about that – first, this short SPD summary:
At 0526 hours [September 5], officers from the SW Precinct observed multiple subjects in the 2600 block of Southwest Trenton Street passing around and utilizing narcotics. Police came up with a plan to detain the individuals and established probable cause for two individuals utilizing and possessing narcotics. The two subjects were arrested with LEAD diversions. A third suspect was arrested for a felony warrant.
We followed up with SPD after seeing the summary. Because two of the people opted into LEAD, we don’t have any information about them. The one who was booked into jail on a previous warrant has quite a saga. 29-year-old Delijahjan M. Hunt has had that warrant out for his arrest for almost two years, relating to a second-degree burglary charge from a West Seattle break-in in January 2020. The case has a very long trail of documents; we just downloaded and read a dozen of them. He was arrested shortly after the burglary, which happened at the Junction Flats apartment building‘s parking garage. Hunt is alleged to have been one of three men who went into the garage and stole a bicycle; police say he was found with the stolen bicycle south of The Junction a short time later. He was rush-charged two days later by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Jail records don’t go back further than a year, so we don’t know when he was released, but he didn’t show up for arraignment two weeks later, and a $5,000 arrest warrant was issued. At some point he was arrested again; in March 2020, he was released on personal recognizance. In July 2020, he didn’t show up for a hearing, but no warrant was issued because of the pandemic – a common practice at the time, we recall from various other cases we covered.
In December 2021, a $10,000 warrant was issued for Hunt’s arrest. By January 2022, he was back in custody, then released when the Northwest Community Bail Fund posted his cash bail. That was forfeited in May, after he failed to show up for an April hearing. Then a $15,000 warrant was issued. He was back in jail by September 2022, when records show Seaview Insurance posting bond via a bail-bonds company. After he failed to show up for yet another hearing, a warrant was issued in October 2022, and the documents trail shows that was the one on which he was arrested last week on SW Trenton. He’s still in jail in lieu of the $15,075 bail for which that warrant was issued; we’ll be checking to see what happens next.
Another major event this week – the first community meeting with police at the Southwest Precinct since March (here’s our coverage of that one). Officers from the precinct have attended neighborhood-group meetings during that time, but Wednesday (September 11) will bring the first meeting to be held under the Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council banner since March. The “council” is really just whoever shows up, rather than an official organization (which it used to be, years ago). The meeting is being organized by the precinct’s Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite. She says they’ll be held quarterly. This time, the guest speakers are District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka and Southwest Precinct leadership (the precinct has changed commanders since last meeting, now led by Capt. Krista Bair). All are welcome; start time is 6:30 pm Wednesday in the community room, which is right off the parking lot on the south side of the building at 2300 SW Webster.
Again tonight, police are investigating gunfire in West Seattle. This time, on Puget Ridge. In the past half-hour, 911 calls came in from people who thought they heard gunfire in the 18th/Myrtle vicinity [vicinity map]. A caller in the 2100 block of SW Myrtle reported having security video showing a “newer blue Chevrolet” from which the gunshots might have been fired. And officers have since confirmed to dispatch that they found three casings. No report of injuries.
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