White Center Now: The blog about White Center

(Reader photo, early Sunday)

The 23-year-old man arrested after Sunday morning’s double shooting at 16th/98th remains in jail with bail set at $2 million after his first court appearance today. He is not yet charged; what’s below is the police narrative from the hearing document, with names of suspect, victims, and witnesses redacted:

King County Deputies responded to the location of 9808 16th Ave SW, Seattle for a reported non-injury accident. While the reporting party was on the phone with King County 911 Dispatch, multiple gunshots were heard in the background. The reporting party advised that shots had been fired, and the suspect was getting into a blue sedan vehicle.

Deputies arrived on scene and observed one male on the ground with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, who was later identified as (victim #1, 52 years old). Another victim was located inside Whateke Sports Bar with a gunshot wound to the shoulder area and to his back, this male was later identified as (victim #2, 26 years old).

Witnesses on scene informed Deputies that the shooter, who was later identified as (suspect, 23 years old), was inside the blue Honda Accord. Deputies contacted (suspect) who stated his gun was under the seat and was placed into custody without incident.

(The victims) were both transported to Harborview Medical center, where (victim #1) was later pronounced deceased and (victim #2) was listed as stable condition.

(Suspect) was later transported to Burien Police Department and placed into a holding cell until Detectives could arrive. Det. McGrath and I conducted an interview with (suspect), where I advised that he was being audio and video recorded and also read (suspect) his rights from my department issued card. (Suspect) stated he understood his rights and wanted to talk to Det. McGrath and I.

(Suspect) stated that he was hanging with his two cousins throughout the day and later in the night had followed his cousins to the location of 9808 16th Ave SW. (Suspect) said he was driving the blue Honda Accord, and his cousin was driving the Chevy Malibu, which his cousin had pulled over by the Whateke Sports bar. (Suspect) said he looked over and saw that his cousin in the Chevy Malibu had fallen asleep at the wheel and crashed his car into a parked vehicle.

(Suspect) said he got out of the Honda Accord to check on his cousin because (victim #2) was trying to wake his cousin up. (Suspect) stated (victim #2) had grabbed the key to the Chevy Malibu and was demanding (Suspect) wake his cousin up. (Suspect) stated he woke his cousin up and made his cousin get into the back seat and (Suspect) got into the driver seat. At that time, (Suspect) stated (suspect #1) started to reach into the Chevy Malibu trying to get (Suspect) out of the vehicle by grabbing on his shirt and “throwing punches”. (Suspect) stated the males were telling him that they were going to “beat his ass” and one stated he was going to “Blow him away”. (Suspect) stated he opened up the center console of the Malibu and retrieved his Glock 23.40 cal handgun and exited through the front passenger side door. The males were on the driver side area of the Malibu and then (Suspect) stated both males started to run away towards the Whateke Sports bar and that’s when (Suspect) fired multiple rounds from his gun, unknowing if he struck anyone. (Suspect) said that he then got into the Honda Accord and put his gun under the driver seat and that was when Deputies arrived on scene and placed him into custody.

Later, (a 31-year-old man), who is the son of (victim #1), returned to the scene and spoke with Det. Cougan and Det. P. Thompson. (He) stated he was working as a security guard at Whateke Sports Bar and his father and brothers came to hang out. (He) stated he was told that there was an accident outside in the street area and went outside to find his father and brother (victims #1 and #2) trying to wake up the driver in the Chevy Malibu, because the Malibu has crashed into (victim #2)’s vehicle. (He) stated he observed (Suspect) walking from the Honda Accord and towards the Chevy Malibu. (He) stated that (Suspect) help remove the driver from the driver seat to the back seat and (Suspect) then got into the driver seat of the Chevy Malibu. (He) stated that (victim #2) punched (Suspect) as he was in the driver seat because (Suspect) was trying to leave the scene and was yelling at them. (Suspect) then tells them to back of or he was going to “pop” them. (Suspect) then pulled out a gun from his waistband and put the gun on his lap. (He) stated that (victim #1) was standing by the driver’s side door taking photographs and that’s when (Suspect) starts firing his gun and strikes (victim #1) first. (He) stated that (victim #2) started to run away, and (Suspect) started firing multiple rounds in the direction of (victim #2), striking him in the back area. (victim #2) was able to get inside of Whateke Sports Bar where Deputies were later able to provide AID until fire and medical arrived on scene.

(Suspect) was later transported to King County Jail and (held for) Investigation of Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the First Degree.

A charging decision is expected by Wednesday, when the suspect is scheduled to return to court.

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