White Center Now: The blog about White Center

6:49 AM: 16th SW is closed between 98th and 100th as King County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigate a deadly shooting early today. Our crew says the Medical Examiner is there right now as is the victim’s family.

More information to come.

7:25 AM: We’ve just talked with another KCSO investigator at the scene. She says the victim is a man believed to be in his 30s. They found him after responding to a “shots fired” call around 1:40 am. He was near the sidewalk on the west side of 16th by the former restaurant space just south of the future Beer Star. No arrests reported so far.

8:33 AM: Checking our archives, this is the first shooting-with-a-victim case in the area in more than a month, since this one (which was not fatal).

9:13 AM: Just heard back from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who says this is reported to have started with a conflict at Taradise Cafe:

Details are sketchy.

Started out as a fight among women in the women’s bathroom that was pushed out into the main front area of the bar and then out into the street.

A man at the bar who went out to talk to one of the women involved in the altercation was shot.

Witness said the suspect calmly shot the victim in the head as he stood out on the street. We don’t know if the suspect had been at the bar or not.

Very little suspect info. Wearing a hoodie but no other details.

As of just before 9 am, the street was still closed.

NOON UPDATE: We just went back to check again; the street is now open again and investigators are gone.

7:23 PM: A tribute to the victim, who friends say was known as “Bookie” and actually went out to try to stop the fight, is in place at the scene:

Friends and family gathered there this evening for a vigil.

Still no word of an arrest.

Got a text about a sizable response of deputies and medics this afternoon. Checked with King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who explained that it started around 3:15 pm as a “report of a male trespassing at a business in the 1700 block of SW Roxbury. He was described as possibly being high.” One of the deputies who responded radioed that he was fighting with the suspect; other deputies arrived and made an arrest, but Sgt. West adds, “Apparently one of the deputies was poked with a needle too.”

Last Friday, we got a few questions about the King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian One helicopter searching in White Center. We weren’t able to reach KCSO for details at the time but did get information today from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. She says a burglary attempt was reported in the 1200 block of SW 112th around 1 pm Friday: “The homeowner told us that when they returned home, they saw the suspect attempting to get into their garage. Deputies arrived quickly and set up a perimeter to try to catch the suspect. K-9 and Guardian 1 also assisted with the search. The suspect was found hiding in the back yard of a house nearby. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Residential Burglary.” The suspect is 44 and, Sgt. West adds, lives “not too far from the area” of the crime.

10:43 PM: King County Sheriff’s Deputies are currently investigating a shooting, according to scanner traffic. A victim was reportedly found at 15th and 98th, but the shooting is said to have happened near the Roxbury Safeway. Right now they’re talking to a possible suspect. We’ll update if we find out anything more.

10:58 PM: KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says 15th and 98th is where the victim was shot; the Roxbury Safeway involvement was because of a possible suspect in that area, but “that turned out not to be the case,” and they are continuing to look for the suspect. Sgt. West says the victim is a man whose injury is “serious but not life-threatening.”

11:07 PM: Sgt. West says the victim is being taken to Harborview. He had called 911 to say he was shot, and was in a car when they found him, so they’re not certain about the circumstances so far.

FRIDAY, 10:50 AM: We checked in again with Sgt. West this morning. She says the victim, contrary to rumor, DID survive. As to how and why this happened, investigators still don’t know. Please contact KCSO if you have information.

FIRST REPORT, 1:29 PM: Thanks to Matt from Moonshot Coffee for the first tip on this – the US Bank in the 9800 block of 15th SW in White Center has been robbed. We’ve also just received information from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who says the robber gave the teller a note and then got away on foot. No description yet. They’re using a K-9 team for the search. More to come.

2:01 PM UPDATE: Sgt. West just sent this:

Suspect is a white male, 20s, last seen wearing black hoody, black gloves, blue jeans, and a red beanie. May have a tattoo on his neck.

Also added a photo from Matt (thank you!).

3:49 PM UPDATE: And another update from Sgt. West – a suspect has been arrested in Burien. “He was found in the Burien Library by one of our detectives. He is a 24-year-old transient man.” Sgt. West says the robber did not get away with any money.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just charged the man arrested for attacking a woman in White Center early last Friday. 21-year-old Robert J. German is charged with first-degree assault with sexual motivation. The charging documents say the 55-year-old victim remains in the hospital in a “medically induced coma” with major head injuries. German “almost killed her,” prosecutors allege, saying he pulled her behind a wall and attacked her, kicking and beating her in the face and head, as she “lay on her back, kicking and fighting to get away,” and that he apparently tried to sexually assault her. The charging papers say he first accosted her near a bus shelter on the east side of the 9600 block of 15th SW. A witness heard what happened and then found the victim unconscious in a pool of blood and called 911. German was found minutes later in the 10200 block of Ambaum and was later booked into jail, where he remains held in lieu of $750,000 bail. The court documents say the victim “lives on the streets” in White Center and that German works at a Burien restaurant but has been homeless for “about a month.” He has no felony criminal history, according to prosecutors, but has a misdemeanor conviction for theft two years ago. The court documents say that after life-saving treatment at Harborview Medical Center, the victim is expected to survive. German is due to answer the charge at a March 20th arraignment hearing.

FIRST REPORT, 6:47 AM: A woman is at Harborview Medical Center after being found unconscious and “severely beaten” early today, according to King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. She says someone called 911 at about 2:20 a to report the woman was being beaten and kicked by a man by the Bartell Drugs store at 15th and Roxbury. A “bloody man” was then found several blocks south, at 15th and 102nd, and was “being interviewed by detectives,” Sgt. West says, adding that it’s “unknown at this point if the victim and suspect knew each other.” More information is expected later today.

UPDATE, 4:55 PM: The victim is 55 years old and in critical condition, and Sgt. West says she might have been sexually assaulted. The “bloody man” who was found, she says, “had blood on his shoes, and bloody footprints at the crime scene matched his shoes.” He is 21 years old and from Tukwila and was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of assault.

From the King County Sheriff’s Office:

Just before 2 am, deputies responded to a shooting at 15th Ave SW/SW Roxbury St. They contacted a 40-year-old male with a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to Harborview Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Multiple shots were fired and the victim was hit at least once. The suspect is described as a male in dark colored clothing. The suspect is at large. We have no further information at this time.

From King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West:

Last night around 1130 pm King County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of two women shot near S. 112th St. and 1st Ave S. [map].

The women were with a group of people lighting off fireworks at that location. Witnesses said a white car was driving erratically back and forth in between the area where the group was lighting fireworks. When the vehicle stopped nearby a man from the group approached the vehicle to yell at the driver to stop driving recklessly.

An altercation occurred between the man and two people in the car. During the altercation shots rang out and two women in the group were shot. It is unknown at this time if the shots came from the occupants of the car.

The woman who was shot in the back is a pregnant, 24-year-old Burien woman. She was taken to Harborview and is in serious but stable condition. The other woman, 46 and from Seattle, was taken to Highline Hospital with a gunshot wound to her foot.

The vehicle in the altercation is described as a white older model sedan occupied by two females. Detectives are asking for anyone with information to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311.

The King County Sheriff’s Office deputy who presented the crime briefing at this month’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, Deputy Corbett Ford, has information to share to help you avoid becoming a victim of auto theft. He shares it in Etwo languages, first, English:

Every day someone becomes a victim of auto theft. We all think it isn’t that big of deal until it happens to you. A vehicle is stolen in the United States almost every 46 seconds. In 2014, there were 689,527 reported stolen vehicles. That amounts to more than $4.5 billion US Dollars. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro area ranked 8th in the nation with 20,268 reported stolen vehicle. This is a problem that affects all of us.

Following are a few Crime Prevention Tips that can help to keep your car from disappearing and ruining your day:

-NEVER leave your vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition.
-Park in busy and well-lit areas.
-Equip your vehicle with an alarm and other anti-thefts devices.
-Lock your doors and keep the windows closed, even when your vehicle is parked in front of your home.
-Keep your vehicle information where you can get to it quickly.
-Report auto theft immediately. Police need your license plate and vehicle information.

And now, en Español:

Todos los días alguien se convierte en una víctima de robo de autos. Nadie le da importancia hasta que le sucede. Un vehículo es robado en los Estados Unidos casi cada 46 segundos. En el 2014, se reportaron 689.527 vehículos robados. Esta cantidad de autos robados asciende a más $ 4,5 billones de dólares. El área metropolitana de Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue estuvo en el octavo lugar a nivel nacional con 20.268 informes de vehículos robados. Este es un problema que nos afecta a todos.

Siguiendo algunos consejos de prevención del delito usted podria aprender como protejer su vehiculo.

-Nunca deje su vehículo si usted tiene que salir del auto.
-Estacionese en áreas concurridas y bien iluminadas.
-Equipe su vehículo con la alarma y otros dispositivos contra robos.
-Asegure las puertas las puertas y mantenga las ventanas cerradas, incluso cuando el vehículo está -estacionado frente a su casa.
-Mantenga la información de su vehículo donde se puede acceder a ella rápidamente.
-Reporte inmediatamente el robo de su auto. La Policía necesita el numero de la placa y la informacion del vehiculo.

Deputy Ford also shares the Top 10 List of Stolen Vehicles, as reported by the National Insurance Crime Bureau for 2014:

1 Honda Accord (1994)
2 Honda Civic (1998)
3 Subaru Legacy (1997)
4 Toyota Camry (1991)
5 Ford Pickup (Full Size, 2000)
6 Acura Integra (1994)
7 Chevrolet Pickup (Small Size, 1998)
8 Honda CR-V (1999)
9 Toyota Corolla (1993)
10 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size, 1999)

Thanks to Deputy Ford for the info – share it with your friends and neighbors!

(WCN photo, March 31st)

3:25 PM: New information today in the 15th/Roxbury gas-station mini-mart shooting we covered last Thursday night:

King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says both suspects are now in custody, arrested last weekend in Federal Way, a 26-year-old woman and 24-year-old man, both from Seattle. We don’t know how the victim – shot in the leg – is doing, but his wound was not considered life-threatening. Investigators say the man had gone to the mini-mart to buy beer and that he was shot after a man and woman tried to take it from him.

10:29 PM: Going through jail records, we’ve found one suspect’s name, and subsequent research reveals she is already charged in the case. Prosecutors allege that 26-year-old Marcy Goodnow is the one who approached the victim as he left the mini-mart last Thursday night, demanding he give her the $18 he was holding as well as the beer he had just bought. She pulled out a gun, court documents say, and the victim “swatted it away.” That’s when her male accomplice – not named in the court documents we’ve found – walked up and said something about “his woman”; she subsequently told the victim she was not kidding, and demanded the money again. He said “no,” she counted to three and shot him in the leg at close range. She and her unnamed male accomplice ran away, court documents say; she was arrested last Saturday in Federal Way for alleged robbery and assault, and two days later, a detective questioned her in connection with what’s only described as “a series of Seattle robberies and shootings.” She is in jail in lieu of half a million dollars bail and may face more charges. Prosecutors say her criminal history includes five assault convictions, two drug convictions, plus convictions on charges including auto theft, car prowl, and theft.

ADDED FRIDAY: The Seattle Times identifies the male suspect as Shane Atolio and says the two were arrested “after a 9-day crime spree.”

11:38 PM: Deputies are looking for a man and woman in connection with a shooting at 15th and Roxbury. One person was shot – reportedly wounded in the leg – according to what we’ve heard so far. The two people being sought may have made their getaway by hailing a cab.

12:10 AM: The investigation is centered at the gas station on the southwest corner of 15th and Roxbury. Meantime, deputies found the cab they were looking for, at Westwood Village; it apparently had transported only one of the suspects, to an address outside West Seattle.

12:50 AM: Adding photos.

5:13 PM: Followup information just received from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West: “The victim, a 52 year old Seattle man, went into a convenience store to buy a beer. When he exited the store he was approached by a man and woman who asked for his beer. He refused to give it to them. The female suspect asked the victim for his money and when he refused she shot him in the leg. Both suspects fled on foot. The only descriptions we have right now are a Hispanic male and Hispanic female. The victim was taken to Harborview.”

The King County Sheriff’s Office Air Support division has published that video showing part of what it was doing late last night – we got texts asking why the helicopter was circling in the White Center area; what you see is the arrest of a suspect found in a stolen car along Myers Way, by the city/county border. After the car was pulled over by Seattle Police, the suspect fled, but was picked up by Guardian One’s FLIR tracking. We don’t know where the car was stolen from – still trying to match this to a specific case.

(WCN photo, February 18th)

Just in from the King County Sheriff’s Office:

King County Sheriff’s Fire Investigators arrested two teens this morning for the arson that occurred February 18th at Cascade Middle School. The two boys, both 17 years old, were booked in the Youth Services Center for Investigation of Arson, Burglary and Vandalism.

One of the boys was arrested just before 8 am at the Evergreen Campus, where he attends school. The other was arrested at his house in the White Center area.

Detectives said the pair broke into Cascade Middle School after midnight on February 18th, vandalized the school, and started at least 2 fires.

(UPDATED FRIDAY AFTERNOON with victim’s identity)

ORIGINAL 9:54 PM REPORT: King County Sheriff’s Office reports one person shot near 9th SW and SW 100th. We’re on our way to find out more.

10:53 PM: We just talked with KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West at the scene – here’s the video:

She confirms the victim is dead – still in the street, wrapped in a tarp. She says he’s a black man who appears to be in his 40s. Detectives are just starting their investigation so the intersection of 9th and 100th will be closed for a while, and they won’t be calling the Medical Examiner to get the victim’s body until they are done with their work.

A nearby resident tells us he heard two gunshots around 9:10 pm.

12:41 AM: Sgt. West now says the victim appears to be “late 30s – early 40s.”

2:41 PM: Just checked with Sgt. West and she says there’s no official new information. (See the comment section for updates from nearby resident RJ.)

3:25 PM: The King County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as 42-year-old James Nickerson, Jr.; cause of death, “multiple firearm injuries.”

6:43 AM: From King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West:

Just before 1 am, King County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a burglary alarm at Cascade Middle School in the 11200 block of 10 Ave SW in White Center.

When deputies arrived, they found at least 2 windows had been broken out and it appeared the suspect(s) were still inside the school. The suspect(s) ran as deputies entered the school.

While searching the school, deputies found 2 small fires that had been set. (North Highline Fire District) responded to extinguish the fires.

King County detectives are investigating the burglary and arsons and said the school had been broken into once before within the last couple of weeks. A fire had been started at that break-in also.

10:12 AM UPDATE: We went by the school, which is open. Out front, we saw both the “ARSON” sign shown atop this story, and the multiple school-security cars in the photo above this line. We’ll be following up with KCSO later today.

After texts wondering about the big King County Sheriff’s Office response at 15th and Roxbury, we went over to check out what was up. Deputies were searching a car at the Texaco station on the southwest corner of the intersection. They tell us it’s a stolen car. If you see somebody pulled over and a sizable law enforcement turnout, that’s often the case – a so-called “felony stop” (since auto theft is a felony) calls for backup. We’ll check tomorrow on whether anything else was found and whether arrests were made (at least one suspect was being questioned).

If you’ve seen King County Sheriff’s Office activity around the Evergreen campus today – here’s what happened, according to KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West:

A 16-year-old student was found tied up in a school bathroom at Evergreen High School this morning. The victim said two females had assaulted her, tied her up and left her in the bathroom.

Deputies responded to the school, located in the 800 block of SW 116th St, around 8:18 am after the student was found tied up in the bathroom.

The victim told police she had been beaten and tied up by two females. The victim was taken to Highline Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

No further details will be released at this time.

One month ago, we reported on a “crash-and-grab” vehicle-involved break-in at Top Hat’s NiMBiN state-licensed marijuana store. Now it’s been hit by crime again:

That video shows armed robbers holding up store employees last Sunday night; this one shows the robbers approaching the store:

The clips were provided by the King County Sheriff’s Office, along with this explanation from spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West:

King County Sheriff’s Detectives are asking for the public’s help identifying three men that robbed the NiMBiN Pot Shop at gun point last Sunday around 10:20pm. Detectives have released a video that shows the robbery in progress. The store is located in the 10800 block of 1 Ave S.

The (robbers) are shown walking up to the store; two of the men go inside, while the third man stands guard at the front door. Once inside, one displays a gun and demands money. He is seen in the video pointing the gun at employees and taking money from the cash drawer as the other suspect takes marijuana packets off the wall display.

All three fled on foot. One was wearing a dark colored jacket with a hood over his head. The jacket had red patches on both shoulder with the numbers “1972” on the front. The suspect with the gun was wearing a red sweatshirt and dark colored pants. The third, who guarded the door, was wearing all-dark clothing.

If you have information about this crime, please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311.

(Added: WCN photo)
ORIGINAL REPORT, SUNDAY: We’ve been checking out reports of a sizable law-enforcement presence near 15th and Roxbury, and this update just in from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West has the details:

A 26 year old man was stabbed in White Center tonight after an altercation with three men.

Around 6:45 pm a King County Sheriff’s Deputy was flagged down near 15th Ave and Roxbury St. by the man, who said he had just been stabbed. The man said he had been on a Metro bus with the three suspects and when he got off the bus at 15th Ave and Roxbury the suspects also exited the bus. A physical altercation ensued between the suspects and victim. During the altercation one of the suspects stabbed the victim in the back. All three suspects then fled on foot in an unknown direction.

When aid arrived they discovered the blade of the knife was still in the victim’s back. The man was taken to Harborview with life-threatening injuries. At this time the only description of the suspects is they were Hispanic men, late teens to early 20’s and at least one of them was wearing a blue bandana.

The King County Major Crimes Unit is handling the investigation.

If you have any information to help solve this case – call 911.

UPDATED TUESDAY: We’ve just learned that the victim is an employee of two West Seattle restaurants, and a crowdfunding drive is under way to help – more info here.