White Center Now: The blog about White Center

(WCN/WSB photo, last Wednesday)

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged two 15-year-olds with unlawful gun possession as a result of last week’s incident at Evergreen High School. Both are charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the Second Degree and Unlawful Possession of a Dangerous Weapon. KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney explains their custody status as follows:

King County prosecutors asked at the first appearance for both to be held in secure detention. The court – after hearing from prosecutors, defense, juvenile probation counselors, and family – ordered the two 15-year-olds to electronic home detention with conditions, including no unauthorized contact with Evergreen High School and that they stay in touch with their juvenile probation counselors.

Neither suspect is reported to have a prior record. Both are due to be arraigned – at which time they will enter initial pleas – this afternoon in juvenile court.

According to the charging documents provided by the KCPAO, here’s how it unfolded: A student tipped school administrators that one of the suspects had brought a loaded gun to school and had it in his backpack. When officers responded and questioned that suspect – who reportedly tried to flee until they cuffed him. He reportedly told investigating officers that two other students had guns. One did turn out to have a gun in his backpack that he claimed belonged to his mother (who was out of town at the time). According to the court documents, the first gun was a Glock, with extended magazine and 30 9mm rounds; the second was a Smith & Wesson. Neither gun had been reported as stolen; the Smith & Wesson had a purchase record at a regional dealer in early 2024.

(Wednesday WCN/WSB photo by Torin Record-Sand)

The two teens arrested after deputies found guns at Evergreen High School on Wednesday had their first court appearance today. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says both are 15 years old. Spokesperson Casey McNerthney summarizes the appearance:

King County prosecutors noted the serious community safety concerns and asked for both to be held in secure detention.

The court – after hearing from prosecutors, defense, juvenile probation counselors, and family – ordered the two 15-year-olds to electronic home detention with conditions, including no unauthorized contact with Evergreen High School and that they stay in touch with their juvenile probation counselors.

Probable cause was found by the first appearance judge for their arrests. However, under court rules and state law regarding Juvenile Court, there is not a public first appearance narrative the same way there is in adult cases.

Monday, Dec. 22, is the date set by the court for a rush file charging decision. Right now, the case has not been referred by Sheriff’s Office investigators to the KCPAO, but that’s normal – in all types of cases, juvenile or adult, the case referral usually comes in the days after a first appearance hearing and close to the rush-file charging deadline.

No previous cases involving the teens have been referred to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

8:15 PM: This is the poster for an Amber Alert sent a short time ago, regarding two children taken in Burien:

According to Seattle Police radio, officers are checking out a report of what might be the car in the alert, seen speeding near Highland Park Way and West Marginal, a short time ago, If you have any information or a possible sighting, call 911.

11:58 PM: The alert is canceled because the children were found.

King County Sheriff’s Deputies and Seattle Police are collaborating on an investigation after a robbery attempt at a smoke/vape shop led to a carjacking, with the victim driven to West Seattle. According to Seattle Police radio, this all started at the VIP Smoke & Vape Shop at 10261 16th Ave SW in White Center; two would-be robbers, reportedly armed with handguns, carjacked a victim described as the store’s owner, and drove them to the Lincoln Park area in West Seattle, then left in the stolen car, described as a 2017 dark gray Toyota Camry with Texas plates. The carjackers were described only as “two Hispanic men, 20s.” We’ll follow up with KCSO later this morning,

8:16 PM: Thanks for the tip. Sheriff’s deputies have converged on 9609 16th SW, where they got an alarm-company report that an intruder was seen on live video. They’re still investigating to see if there was an actual burglary.

8:40 PM: Deputies were able to get into the building; no intruder there now. We haven’t heard whether they confirmed a break-in.

4:25 PM: King County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a shooting near the former Bartell Drugs building at 15th/Roxbury. They got the first call a few minutes before 4 pm; one person was subsequently reported to have a gunshot wound to their finger, not life-threatening. No description of the shooter so far other than “unknown-race male in dark clothing.”

4:48 PM: Most deputies have cleared the area (our photographer just saw the ones shown above) and the street has been reopened. Here’s the early info from KCSO:

Deputies responded to the area of SW Roxbury St & 15th Ave SW after reports of shots being fired came into the Communications Center just before 4 PM today. Preliminarily, deputies have located one adult male with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. They’re working to locate surveillance footage and witnesses that may provide information about a suspect.

9:46 PM: Thanks for all the tips about the Guardian One helicopter over north White Center and lots of law-enforcement activity on the ground. We’re catching up on what King County Sheriff’s Office dispatched as a stabbing and robbery, apparently at or near a bus stop on the White Center side of 15th and Roxbury. Avoid the area, as deputies were setting up some road closures. More info to come.

9:53 PM: The person who was stabbed has been taken to Harborview Medical Center.

10:06 PM: Deputies have one possible suspect detained; meantime, they’re clearing the original scene.

ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: We checked with KCSO, and they add, “Upon canvassing the area, one deputy located a group of men; he identified one matching the description of one of the suspects; he was taken into custody and then it was discovered there was a felony for his arrest from the DOC for escaped community custody. The deputy found scissors and a box cutter on him.” The investigation continues; if you have any information, you can refer to KCSO case C25027702.”

(Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

Those are photos of Miguel R. Rivera Dominguez, 17 years old when he shot a man dead aboard a Metro bus in White Center in October 2023 without saying a word. We first published the photos when he was charged with premeditated first-degree murder weeks after killing 21-year-old Marcell D. Wagner aboard a West Seattle-bound bus that was stopped at 15th/Roxbury.

(WSB photo, October 3)

Two months ago, Rivera Dominguez pleaded guilty as charged, and this afternoon he was sentenced. According to court documents, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requested a sentence of 21 years in prison; Superior Court Judge Brian McDonald sentenced him to 23 years and four months, after an hour-long hearing, attended by family members of both the victim and the defendant. Case document indicate the sentence is at the midpoint of the state’s standard sentencing range for someone with no record, 20 years to just under 27 years. He’ll get credit for the nearly two years he’s already been in custody, and he will be on probation for three years when he gets out.

(Security video framegrab included in the charging document)

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 23-year-old Augustino Palepale Jr. of Kent with second-degree murder and first-degree assault in last weekend’s double shooting in White Center that killed 52-year-old James Sears and injured his 26-year-old son Jaymaht Sears. The charging documents go into exhaustive detail of what various people involved in the night’s events told investigators, but the basic accusation remains the same as previously reported: that it all started with a suspected DUI crash and escalated to deadly gunfire. We’ll add more notes from the narrative when we can; Palepale, who apparently has no record, remains jailed in lieu of $2 million bail.

(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.

ADDED TUESDAY AFTERNOON: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the victim as 52-year-old James E. Sears.

11:16 AM: Thanks to Kellie for the photo. That was the scene early this morning as King County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated a double shooting. KCSO tells WCN:

At approximately 00:40 am today, KCSO deputies were dispatched to a shooting incident in White Center. The initial dispatch was related to a vehicle accident and/or road-rage allegation occurring in the 9800 block of 16th Ave SW. Deputies discovered two injured adult males at the scene and rendered emergency first aid while the area was secured. Local medics arrived, continued medical treatment, and transported the victims to local hospitals. Their current conditions are unknown although at least one wound appeared serious. KCSO deputies were able to identify and arrest the alleged shooter who remained at or near the scene.

4:35 PM: KCSO’s update confirms one shooting victim did not survive:

KCSO can confirm that one of the shooting victims died soon after arrival at Harborview Medical Center. The second shooting victim’s injuries are not life-threatening. The incident began when an alleged DUI driver crashed into a parked car along the 9800 block of 16th Ave SW in White Center. An altercation (leading to shots being fired) began when the parked vehicle’s owner confronted the seemingly DUI driver. An associate of the DUI driver is the shooting suspect. Detectives have booked the sole shooting suspect in to the King County Jail for investigation of Murder and Assault 1st Degree. The DUI driver was cited and released for a DUI offense. The KCSO Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate this open/active investigation.

We’ll be following up with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tomorrow, when the suspect is likely to have an initial hearing.

If you got an Amber Alert early this evening about a child taken in Greenbridge, then canceled with word she was found, the case is not closed yet: The person who stole the car containing the child hasn’t been found yet. The car was found at 6th SW and SW 102nd, with the child inside, safe, about an hour after the theft/kidnapping.

Here’s what the King County Sheriff’s Office tells us about an overnight incident that involved two locations in unincorporated North Highline:

– Around midnight, deputies responded to reports of a shooting in the 10000 block of 1st AVE S.
– Fire transported one victim to Harborview for medical treatment.
– Deputies report the incident began at the West Seattle Marijuana Store, where an unknown number of suspects attempted to break in.
-No suspects at this time.
-Case number: C25007631

(Despite its name, the WS Marijuana Store is located in Top Hat, at 10825 Myers Way S.) If you have any information, call 911 and refer to the case number noted above.

We checked with King County Sheriff’s Office after a TV report about a burglary at Tim’s Tavern in downtown White Center. Here’s what they tell us:

Monday morning about 5:40, deputies responded to reports of a burglary at Tim’s Tavern.

They observed damage to a fence as well as forced entry to a door.

Surveillance video from the business owner shows two people stealing money from three cash-register tills as well as a safe.

No suspects arrested and no real description to share at this point either.

Guardian One is in the sky over downtown White Center. A robbery was reported a short time ago in the 9900 block of 15th SW, according to a bulletin shared with Seattle Police. Still working on details.

2:37 PM: A 19-year-old woman is in the King County Jail this afternoon for investigation of homicide after another woman was found dead in a White Center apartment. Here’s what King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deputy Mike Mellis tells us:

At 7:15pm on Friday, October 25th, 2024, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a possible homicide having just occurred.

The location was a small apartment building in the 9800 block of 15th Ave SW in the White Center area … Upon arrival, KCSO deputies contacted several individuals and located a deceased adult female inside one of the rooms of the residence. Another adult female was arrested at the scene. The KCSO Major Crimes Unit detectives were called to the scene to take over the investigation. The female suspect was booked into the King County Jail at approximately 1:30 am (this) morning. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the victim’s name, cause of death, and manner of death per their protocols. The King County Prosecutor’s Office will review the case reports and make a filing decision. This case remains an open and active investigation.

If you have any information, the KCSO case # is C24036038.

EVENING UPDATE: The suspect’s bail was set today at $2 million.

7:54 PM: We just got the court document from the bail hearing. Here’s the narrative, with some redactions:

(The suspect) is a tenant residing at the address of 9834 15 Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106; a multitenant structure comprised of separate rooms rented out on a per room basis by the 73-year-old property owner… (suspect) has resided at this location, renting a room for approximately one year.

On 10/25/2024 at 7:15 pm the suspect’s brother-in-law … called the King County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center to report that (she) had told them she had killed someone and had shown (the victim’s) body in a video phone call. …
King County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene. Meanwhile, the King County Sheriff’s Communications Center called (the suspect, who) initially told the call receiver that said she did not do this and that it was all a joke and that she was “all the way in Everett” with ‘a friend’, denying that she had done anything. When she was then asked about the video call she made(, she) responded, “I killed her…not the friend…the one that I showed to my sister.”

The suspect subsequently told detectives that the dispute involved back rent she owned. The brother-in-law said the suspect had been threatening to kill her landlord since last month but they didn’t take her seriously.

Via a reader tip and Seattle Police regional bulletin, we learn that King County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating an attack on a Metro bus driver. It happened in the past hour or so (after 9 am) at 15th/Roxbury. A reader says it was a northbound RapidRide H Line bus. The bulletin said the attacker broke a glass bottle over the driver’s head. They were described only as a Black man, tall, thin, in a black hoodie. If you have any information on the attack, call 911.

5:25 PM: According to an FYI bulletin just circulated on Seattle Police emergency radio, King County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating a shooting. One person is reported injured in the shooting at/near the Saar’s Super Saver Foods grocery store in the 10600 block of 16th SW. Deputies are said to be looking for a suspect described as a Hispanic man in his 20s, 5’7″, short brown hair, black clothing, with a backpack, carrying a black helmet. According to King County emergency radio, the victim is seriously injured with “multiple gunshot wounds.” (Added: Shot four times.) If you have any information, call 911.

5:47 PM: As shown in our photo, the scene appears to be at the car wash north of the store – at least, that’s where the victim was loaded into a medic unit; they’re now on the way to Harborview Medical Center. A possible suspect was found blocks away but we haven’t heard yet whether they’ve been arrested.

We’ll add anything more we find out.

6:31 PM: KCSO says they did take that suspect into custody – no other details, though, regarding the circumstances, the victim, or the suspect.

5:22 PM: Lots of questions earlier about the Guardian One helicopter over White Center/south West Seattle. Most of the ground response was gone by the time we were able to get to WC but archived King County Sheriff’s Office dispatch audio indicates Taboo Video on 16th south of 98th was robbed. Two robbers were described – descriptions broadcast over the air were partial, a Black man about 30, black clothing except for some “bluish” pants, and a white woman about 25, also in black clothing, with unspecified tattoos. They were reported to have escaped with some merchandise but no cash.

7 PM: A little more info from KCSO – the robbers did have a weapon, believed to be a Taser, but apparently did not use it, as investigators report no one was hurt. If you have any inforation, the case # is C24034078.

King County Sheriff’s Office detectives continue investigating last Friday’s holdup at the Domino’s Pizza location at 17th/Roxbury. We received two video clips, showing the robbers arriving and leaving, from a reader whose dashcam recorded this video while they were visiting a neighboring business at the time. It happened around 1:30 pm Friday (October 4). The three robbers are shown arriving and leaving in the blue Hyundai; the passerby also seen in the video was not involved.

KCSO says deputies responded but the robbers had already fled. If you have any information on the holdup, please contact KCSO.