White Center Now: The blog about White Center

King County Sheriff’s Deputies are trying to sort out a shooting in downtown White Center. We got a tip that a shooting had been reported at 16th/Roxbury and went over to find out more. Between the last deputies at the scene and KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Ryan Abbott, here’s what we have learned: A man was found with a gunshot wound to the knee – found in the 9600 block of 15th SW, per Sgt. Abbott, but they don’t know exactly where the shooting happened; he says the victim, a 30-year-old man, has been “uncooperative” so far. Deputies at the scene said they first responded to a report of multiple gunshots. No arrests so far.

(Photos from Washington State Gambling Commission)

Announced by the Washington State Gambling Commission:

Gambling Commission agents made 11 arrests following an investigation into a Seattle business that has been operating illegal gambling.

For the past year, our agents have been conducting a joint investigation with the Seattle Police Department into illegal gambling activities occurring at a café in White Center. The café does not have, and has never had, a license to operate gambling. While serving a search warrant on Feb. 5, agents located evidence of illegal gambling, including: electronic gambling machines, cards, dice and gambling records.

During interviews, agents learned that the business was charging players an hourly fee in order to participate in the gambling activities.

This isn’t the first time we’ve been to this location. Our agents have conducted six other investigations into the café’s illegal gambling activities, beginning in 2004.

Seven players and three employees were arrested and booked into the King County Jail. The players were charged with professional gambling in the third degree, which is a gross misdemeanor. The employees were charged with professional gambling in the first degree, which is a Class B felony. One of the employees was also arrested in 2011 when we served a search warrant at the same location.

The business owner was arrested at the airport on Feb. 14 as he returned from an international trip. He was booked into the King County Jail on the following charges: ownership or interest in a gambling device; professional gambling in the first degree; money laundering; use of proceeds of criminal profiteering; and leading organized crime (class A felony).

The WSGC did not identify the business, but its announcement on social media showed SPD cars in the street on Delridge just north of Roxbury.

As reported here last week, the suspect in the violent, video-recorded Southside Pizza robbery is out of jail after a judge cut his bail. Thursday was 27-year-old Vernon Jackson Jr.’s first scheduled court appearance since leaving jail.It was a short one – a routine “case-setting” hearing, at which his lawyer told the judge they’re still putting the case together. Jackson’s next hearing is set for February 27th.

The video and report are from the King County Sheriff’s Office, which is still looking for a murder suspect, almost three years after the deadly May 7, 2017, shooting outside Taradise Café in downtown White Center:

King County Sheriff’s Office detectives are releasing (for the first time) an edited video compilation showing suspect Billy Dawayne Williams‘ movements on the night we believe he murdered a man in front of the Taradise Café in White Center in 2017. This video was gathered from multiple locations and enabled detectives to track Williams’ movements for several hours, right up to the murder itself.

The video being released today is highly edited for media release but it shows how video evidence was used by detectives to help positively identify the suspect in this case.

At approximately 1:40 AM on May 7, 2017, KCSO deputies were dispatched to the Taradise Bar in White Center (9800 block of 16 Av SW) in regards to a shooting. The shooting followed closely on the heels of a physical fight between females inside and outside of the bar. The shooting victim died in the street near the bar. The male shooting victim was identified as James C. Little, 55.

Witness accounts and surveillance video in the area helped establish a suspect within a day of the initial investigation. That suspect is Billy Dawayne Williams, 32 years old. A nationwide felony warrant was issued for Williams’ arrest for Murder 1st Degree in May of 2017. The bail amount remains $1,000,000.

Williams has been featured as a “wanted person” on local media several times since this crime occurred. However, as of January 24th, 2020, Williams remains a fugitive at-large. Detectives believe Williams may have altered his appearance to avoid arrest. Detectives also believe Williams has either remained in or visited the Puget Sound area since this murder.

KCSO detectives are once again requesting the public’s assistance in locating Williams so he can be safely arrested for this crime.

If anyone has any information on Billy Williams, call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206/296-3311 or you can be completely anonymous and leave a tip with Crime Stoppers at p3tips.com

As reported here a week and a half after the murder, when Williams was charged, he is accused of killing Little without provocation, Here’s a photo of him circulated at the time and re-released by KCSO today:

When 27-year-old Vernon L. Jackson, Jr., was charged two weeks ago in the video-recorded robbery at Southside Pizza, his bail was set at $150,000. Since then, though, according to jail records, his bail was cut to $25,000 and he got out last Friday afternoon after posting bond. The motion to reduce bail was granted by Superior Court Judge Karen Donohue at Jackson’s arraignment last Thursday, despite Jackson having a criminal record including three failures-to-appear since 2011. Police say Jackson told them at the time of his arrest that he committed the robbery – which netted him a reported $40 – to get money to buy drugs. He is due back in court on January 30th.

The 27-year-old man arrested in connection with last week’s Southside Pizza robbery, Vernon L. Jackson Jr., is now charged.

We’ve obtained the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office court documents charging Jackson with first-degree robbery. They say that after his arrest in Seatac on Friday, Jackson admitted to the robbery, saying he did it to get money for drugs and that he didn’t expect anyone to be in the restaurant’s office when he broke in.

His criminal history, according to prosecutors, includes convictions for residential burglary and auto theft. The charging documents also reveal how Jackson was identified as a suspect; A pawn-shop employee saw the security video of the robbery and recognized him from a transaction on New Year’s Eve. A bulletin for his arrest was put out on Friday morning, and hours later a deputy saw his car and followed to a gas station, where he made the arrest. Jackson, a Burien resident, remains in the King County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail; his arraignment is set for January 16. (Image: KCSO screengrab from robbery video)

1:15 pm: We first reported here Monday night about a robbery at Southside Pizza in downtown White Center. KCSO now says it knows who the robber is and is searching for him, after publishing this security-camera video of the incident:

KCSO said the robber “enters through a back door and heads straight to the office, where an employee was counting cash at closing time … then assaulted the employee while he was trying to grab the bag of money.” If you know where the suspect is:

Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311 – reference case #C19050197. You can also leave an anonymous tip with Crimestoppers at p3tips.com – Your information might get you up to a $1000 reward if it leads to the suspect’s arrest.

2:17 PM: KCSO has just announced it’s arrested a 28-year-old man, who will be booked into jail for investigation of robbery. We will track the case.

Thanks for the tips (we’re at 206-293-6302, text or voice, any time) about a big KCSO search in downtown White Center. Sgt. Ryan Abbott tells WCN that Southside Pizza (at 98th/16th) was robbed. The robber ran away; deputies with a K9 team searched but were unable to find him. Scanner traffic we monitored suggested he didn’t get away with much – $40 was mentioned.

(WCN photo, November 30th)

On November 30th, we reported briefly on a holdup at the MetroPCS store (15th/100th). Now we know at least two suspects have been arrested in a robbery rampage including that store, another MetroPCS store in Burien, and other holdups as far north as Burien. Both suspects, 17 and 18, were arrested Friday in West Seattle, and other suspects were being sought. Full details are in this report on our partner site West Seattle Blog.

We got some questions Monday afternoon about a Guardian One search over White Center. KCSO answered those questions with this update today:

On 11/4/2019, at about 2:50 PM, Deputy Hancock located an occupied stolen vehicle near the 9800 block of 13 Avenue SW in White Center. The driver of the vehicle got out and fled through an apartment complex.

Guardian 1 took to the air, and Deputy Gervacio grabbed his K9 partner “Paco” to assist in the hunt for the suspect. Guardian One noticed a suspicious hot spot, and K9 Paco found the suspect hiding at the bottom of a rock wall.

The 43 year old male, from White Center, was arrested without incident. The suspect denied he had driven the stolen car, but deputies were able to locate video of the suspect behind the wheel, wearing a beige jacket – which was found hidden inside the car.

KCSO adds that the suspect “was booked into King County jail on several outstanding warrants. The vehicle theft investigation remains open.”

(Also posted to partner site West Seattle Blog)

Took a while to get the details on this but for everyone who asked why the Guardian One helicopter was looping over White Center and South Delridge for a while – it was part of the search for someone who robbed an employee of Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th SW) in the alley behind the business, says King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Ryan Abbott. He says a robber armed with a handgun took the employee’s wallet and cell phone “and fled northbound into Seattle on a bike.”

7:06 PM: Got a few questions about helicopters just south of White Center. The King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting in North Burien, 2nd SW and SW 120th [map]. KCSO says a 27-year-old man was “shot in the face” and was taken to Harborview in serious condition. No other info yet.

11:35 PM: Update from KCSO: “Deputies were able to determine actual shooting took place in the Top Hat area of unincorporated King County and the victim fled to a house in Burien. This entire incident was over a vehicle. The suspect is still outstanding.”

If you’re headed southbound, an FYI from KCSO:

The photo and update are via Twitter: “Collision investigation in Burien near S 128/ SB on-ramp 509. Suspect vehicle fleeing a shoplift struck a truck at a high rate of speed. Police were not involved prior to the collision. Suspect vehicle passenger critical injuries. EB S 128 will be closed while MARR investigates.”

We first reported last Thursday on a state Liquor and Cannabis Board raid, with KCSO assistance, in downtown White Center. Today the LCB went public with more information. Here’s the news release:

During an undercover investigation, Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) officers purchased illegal marijuana from a clerk at “Todd’s Trading Post and Compassion Club” (also called “Micael Sow Compassion Club”), an unlicensed marijuana retailer and marijuana club located at 9819 16th Ave SW in White Center. Under state law, marijuana may only be sold from a licensed marijuana retail store, and marijuana clubs are illegal.

Between May and July, an undercover WSLCB officer gained access to the club and made four buys of marijuana. WSLCB officers subsequently obtained a search warrant for Todd’s Trading Post and Compassion Club. In partnership with the King County Sheriff’s Office, WSLCB enforcement officers executed the search warrant Thursday, Aug. 1. The officers located and seized over 26 pounds of marijuana flower, marijuana concentrates, and marijuana-infused edible products. The retail value of the product was estimated at over $150,000.

The owner, Micael Kidane Tsegai, and a clerk, Ishmail Michael Kidane, were arrested by WSLCB officers and booked into the King County jail for the marijuana crimes and firearms violations. The owner of the store has previous felony convictions, and both subjects had outstanding arrest warrants. The marijuana, sales and security equipment, two handguns, and cash were seized as evidence. A loaded handgun was located in a backroom safe with the marijuana and cash. Officers also recovered a stolen handgun that was located in a freezer next to the cash register.

Officers will be recommending felony charges for Unlawful Possession and Distribution of a Controlled Substance (RCW 69.50.401), Conducting and Maintaining a Marijuana Club (RCW 69.50.465), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (RCW 9.41.040), and Possession of a Stolen Firearm (RCW 9A.56.310).

The investigation was prompted by complaints from the community alleging that the unlicensed store was competing against nearby licensed marijuana retailers, maintaining a marijuana club, and attracting criminal activity to the area.

According to the county jail register, Tsegai was released from jail after one day, Kidane after two days.

Thanks for the tips. We have some information about the midday law enforcement presence in downtown White Center – the King County Sheriff’s Office tells us they “assisted the Liquor Control Board with the service of a warrant in 9800 block of 16th SW.” While it’s an LCB case, KCSO notes this site, Todd’s Trading Post and an after-hours hookah lounge, was linked to June’s triple shooting. We’ll follow up with the LCB tomorrow.

4:48 PM: While in White Center checking out something unrelated, we happened onto this; KCSO and SPD behind Holy Family. They told us they were investigating a stabbing/carjacking. No other details, not even a description of the car, but we are trying to find out more.

6:15 PM: Additional details from KCSO’s Sgt. Cindy Sampson: “Units responded to a stabbing / carjacking in the 1800 block of SW 96th. Victim was conscious, breathing, and talking to officers when they arrived. He was transported from the scene by ambulance. Officers subsequently located the victim’s vehicle being driven by the suspect. A short Pursuit ensued. The suspect abandoned the vehicle and is on foot in the area of 98th and West Marginal. K-9 Officer is on scene attempting to track.”

ADDED MONDAY: Seattle Police have taken over the investigation. They posted this update:

Seattle Police Robbery Unit detectives are conducting the follow up investigation after an 80 year-old male was stabbed in the back and his van was stolen by an unknown suspect Sunday afternoon. Fortunately the injuries are not life-threatening.

Shortly after 4:00 pm, the victim was in the church parking lot in the 9600 block of 20th Avenue SW. The suspect, described as a male, aged late 20’s or early 30’s, medium build, and wearing dark clothing and a red or orange bandana covering his face, approached the victim and attempted to steal the victim’s van. During the struggle over the vehicle, the suspect stabbed the victim twice in the back before stealing the van.

King County Sheriff’s Office deputies located the stolen vehicle nearby and pursued the van until it crashed on Des Moines Memorial Drive. The suspect then fled on foot toward the Duwamish River.

Despite an extensive search by officers and a K-9 team, the suspect was not located. The victim was transported to the hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery. The van was impounded and detectives continue to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Seattle Police.

… we went out looking but Guardian One had moved on and we were unable to locate deputies on the ground. G-1 has since tweeted that it was assisting in the search for a hit-run suspect near 2nd SW and SW 102nd.

1:10 AM: From radio communication: King County deputies are investigating a shooting reported to have happened ear 4th SW and SW 106th. The victim is at the hospital and his injuries are not believed, so far, to be life-threatening. That’s all we’ve heard so far.

10:10 PM: We followed up with KCSO’s Sgt. Ryan Abbott, who tells us tonight:

On 7/5/19 at 12:45 AM, near the 10600 block of 4th Ave SW, a male was shot by a suspect in a vehicle who drove by a house. The male was shot on his side. He had a friend drive him to Highline Hospital prior to Police arrival at the scene. The victim was then transported to HMC; his injuries were not life threatening. People on scene were not very cooperative. This case is open and being followed up by Major Crimes.

(WCN photo from Sunday)

From the King County Sheriff’s Office this afternoon:

After a series of shootings over the weekend, the Sheriff’s Office wants to assure our White Center residents and business owners that public safety is our top priority and we are taking action to combat violent crime in the area.

King County Sheriff Mitzi G. Johanknecht said, “We are aware that violent crime is trending up. We will be adding deputies for increased emphasis patrols targeting crimes of violence.”

“The patrols will be random and at different times of the day to increase visibility in areas where violent crime is likely to occur,” said Sheriff Johanknecht.

The two shootings this weekend are not related, and so far there is no indication either is gang-related. Here is an update on each shooting:

Outside Hookah Lounge on 17th Avenue SW

On Sunday Morning, 6/23/2019 at 5:30 AM, a 911 call came in with someone hearing shots in the area of SW Roxbury/ 17 AVE SW. A deputy responded but did not hear or see anything initially. After checking for about 30 minutes, he cleared the call.

At 6:13 AM, three males showed up at Harborview Medical Center, each with gunshot wounds. Just before 7 AM, it was determined that this incident had occurred at the 9800 BLK 17 AVE SW. Deputies arrived on scene and located numerous shell casings. King County Major Crimes responded to the scene and located over 40 shell casings. Detectives believe some type of disturbance occurred outside of an after-hours club located in the alley between 16 AVE SW and 17 AVE SW. The disturbance led to a shooting between multiple people. A 28-year-old male was shot in the leg and was treated and released from the hospital. A 30-year-old male remains in critical condition, and a 29-year-old male remains in serious condition. Major Crimes continues to investigate.

1st Avenue SW Shooting

Today, Monday 6/24/2019 at 7:55 AM, a 27-year-old male caller reported he had just been shot near his house at 10600 BLK 1 AVE SW. The male suspect, known to the victim, fled the scene. King County Medics treated the victim on scene for a gunshot wound to the shoulder. The medics transported him to Harborview Hospital; his condition was listed as serious. The victim was not very cooperative with Deputies about what had occurred. At this time it is unknown what led up to the shooting, but this case remains under investigation.

8:04 AM: From radio communication: Deputies are on the scene where a man is reported to have been shot at or near a house on SW 106th between 1st/1st SW. They’ve reported finding a shell casing. No word yet on the victim’s condition.

10:58 AM: KCSO says the victim’s injuries are not life-threatening. No suspect information yet.

5:22 PM: More followup info is here.