There has been yet another shooting at Seattle’s most notorious corner.
Officers and medics responded shortly after 8:30 pm last night to a 911 call reporting a shooting at Rainier Avenue South and South Henderson Street in Rainier Beach, where seattlecrime.com says they found a man with a gunshot wound to the leg. There are no additional details from SPD.
In the last 10 days, there have been two back-to-back shootings of and by children, including a 10-year old gunman; a horrific attack on a man who police say was beaten and set on fire; a stabbing; another beating; and now this, all at a corner that is also home to a library, a community center and TWO schools.
Meanwhile, Q13 picked up our Rainier Valley Live Local Challenge presented to Mayor McGinn earlier this week:
The mayor won’t be moving south anytime soon, but he is already planning to make changes. “Within a couple of years, we’re going to install better lighting, LED lighting in Rainier Beach,” he said. Mayor McGinn also talked about plans to put more officers there “we have deployed and will deploy additional officers to that neighborhood.”
Photo/Will Austin Photography
Related:
- Man Injured in Rainier Beach Stabbing; Guess Where… (8/22/10)
- Community in Crisis: Man Beaten, Set on Fire in Rainier Beach (8/20/10)
- Police: 10-Year-Old Gunshot Victim Shot Himself While Robbing Teen on Bus (8/18/10)
- Teen Injured in Rainier Beach Shooting; Suspect at Large (8/17/10)
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 57 comments }
I’ve stopped going to the bus stop there and it’s really inconvenient to do so, but there’s no way I’m going to sit and wait on that corner anymore. I have NEVER seen a cop there and there needs to be a police presence.
What do you have to say to this, South Seattle Cop?
Seen Mayor McShwinn on the news this morning….said they will be installing led lights and adding more police. Hopefully he will send in the troops sooner then later.
We’ll see………….
“I have NEVER seen a cop there and there needs to be a police presence.
What do you have to say to this, South Seattle Cop?”
Is that a question or a challenge?
Unless he is the precinct Captain I don’t think he has a whole lot to say about who is assigned where, but I would bet he would be the first to acknowledge the need for more police presence in the area.
I mean come on Belltown had 2 shootings in a month or so, don’t you see the importance of our officers being diverted to drunk patrol/baby sitting for the more important citizenry?
No?
Me either.
Better lighting? What the – who is advising the Mayor – the Jerky Boys?
This is like their skit where Pizza Hut gives you a coupon for a free pizza after you were made sick by the pizza you got from them!
Better lighting?
So people can see who they are shooting at?
Maybe South Seattle should call itself the Belltown of the South, that might get McGinn’s attention.
Better lighting “in the next couple of years.”
What a speedy response! So speedy that he’ll probably be out of office before he has to make good.
I actually see cops at this intersection regularly, for the 24 to 48 hours after a shooting or beating.
In my recollection, all of the recent shootings happened in broad daylight, so I’m not sure what better lighting might do. Maybe the mayor is hoping the idiots can improve their aim if they can see better?
So wouldn’t “better lighting” work in Belltown also? How about we try that and we keep our officers here where the action is.
How the f*ck do you make Nickles look good?
Better lighting in two years?? Why not just promise us unicorns with glitter in their hair? That sounds more likely and promising.
Come on people we have bike lanes to build, we can wait for light can’t we?
In 2 years the lighting he is talking about will probably be obsolete and we will have to do a 2 year study to find a better alternative.
All while McGin and Tonic’s drinking buddies are sucking up our resources.
Where are the LED lights going to be placed and when? Can we get a better time-line than a “few years”? How much is more cops, where/how, and for how long? What are we doing about children with a rap sheet that would put seasoned criminals to shame? I’ve heard kids brag about how many crimes they’ve committed all the while knowing they’ll be sent back home because they’re not 18 yet (heard this on the #7 actually). I am fully behind underage crime prevention for kids who haven’t adopted the thug life already but how are we establishing serious consequences to the actions of minors who’ve exhibited no intent of reform? How can we keep repeat criminals, regardless of age, off the streets? What are they going to do about crime occurring ON the #7? Also, what are their bus rerouting plans? How do we know the crime won’t just follow the new bus plans? Will they place security on the buses themselves? How are they going to make us feel secure walking from the light rail stations to our homes or other buses?
These are all questions I don’t feel have been answered adequately. This flippant, off-the-cuff attitude towards our problems only frustrates me more. I realize the reporter simply caught the mayor on his way home but I still don’t feel like he gets it. Am I the only one? Perhaps plans are in place, perhaps they’re not but I’d sure appreciate the opportunity to know how they intend to address our crime issues in detail.
Tasha: I won’t deny it, if they delivered a live unicorn with a glittery mane then you may consider me appeased.
Is it just me (I don’t have a very good concept of time), or was it like twenty minutes between the gun shots and the sirens? If so, what’s up with that? They should be RIGHT THERE.
Country fried Unicorn with glitter gravy
Ingredients
• 4 (4 ounce) unicorn steaks
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 3/4 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided
• 1/2 tablespoon any color glitter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup lard
• 1 cup milk
Directions
1. Season meat with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper; set aside. In a shallow dish, mix flour with 1 teaspoon of the pepper. Dredge each steak in flour. Dip in beaten egg, then dredge in flour again.
2. Heat lard in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Fry steaks 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
3. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the dredging flour into oil. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of skillet. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook, stirring frequently, 3 to 4 minutes, or until thickened and bubbly. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons pepper; 1/2 tablespoon glitter, gravy should be quite sparkly.
“10-year old gunman”
A little misleading (i.e., incorrect). The gun belonged to the 17-year old victim, not the 10-year old suspect. According to the news articles, the gun discharge was accidental – not at the hands of a “gunman”.
I vote Mark B for comment of the week for the unicorn recipe!
Does that go with red wine or white?
I hope to see as many people as possible at the block watch meeting tonight. If we don’t start doing something then no one has room to complain.
I would go with a petite sirah or a sangiovese.
the mayor & councilmembers & king county council & state politicians are hoping we have short memories and forget all the bad things…and still vote for them!
@ Anon
I’m if none of the council members show up to the meeting tonight I might go on a slapping spree! By slapping I mean “slapping” their office with calls and letters
The City and media continue to ignore the criminal activities in the Rainier Valley. The is plagued with robberies, assaults, shootings, and gang activity on a daily basis. When there was a string of burglaries, it never made the news. More recently people have had their gold necklaces yanked off them in random attacks, yet no news coverage. If these had happened in Belltown, Magnolia, or Windermere, there would be 24/7 news coverage on how and why this could happen and the obligatory citizen comment, “I no longer feel safe…we need more police officers…I’m moving.”
Remember a couple years ago when ONE person got shot downtown near Nordstrom? The City and media were all over that! If I remember correctly, that shooting was not random, so there was no real public safety concern with some nut randomly shooting people. Within days of that shooting the City somehow came up with $500,000 to add extra police patrols (officers working overtime plus the use of a mobile precinct parked conspicuously at Westlake Center). The extra patrols lasted a couple months, but it goes to show that the City can react quickly, if it really wanted to.
Then there’s Belltown. A few drunken brawls plus a couple shootings and all of a sudden it’s the worst neighborhood in the city? Now SPD officers are being pulled from other precincts to babysit some drunken hoodlums while leaving the rest of the city with less cops to patrol. And the mayor is pushing his “Nightlife Initiative” so these idiots will have more time to drink and cause trouble.
Sure these other neighborhoods do have their unique problems and they deserve their fair share of attention, but where’s the outrage when something happens in the Rainier Valley? Where’s the extra police patrols and “initiatives” to keep the citizens safe? Better lighting will not solve anything…shootings have occurred in broad daylight… super bright LED lights will not deter any gangbanger from shooting another. Why does the city continue to ignore an minimize the crime around here?
I’d like to see the mayor ride his bike and do a walking tour of the Rainier and Henderson area between 3PM-Midnight on a Friday and Saturday all while listening to an ipod with a gold necklace around his neck!
An interesting thing I noticed: When all the media stations were reporting on the 10 year old boy that shot himself, none of the live shots were done at Rainier and Henderson. I think one reporter did a taped stand-up from the scene though.
Mark B: Haha! Great recipe! Although somewhere in that gravy, there needs to be a drop of red (pink) food coloring.
Anon: They can hope. The community seems to be getting more vocal about these issues. No doubt thanks to having a more convenient, common areas such as the RVP to keep informed and share thoughts. I don’t see us quieting down anytime soon. At least, not until the crime does. Kind of hard not to remember the people sweeping our problems under the carpet when you’re still hearing gunshots outside your window.
Does anyone record neighborhood meetings and post them for those that cannot attend? I’m especially interested in the block watch meeting tonight at 6:30 PM but can’t make it.
I hope next week Ahow will put up a recipe for bulgogi unicorn.
I still have about a half a side of unicorn but need new recipes.
Kathy What dely there was was due it appearsto no one one calling-in immediately when the shooting occurred (did you call right away?). The person who was shot made their way over to and inside the Sars Market before SPD started getting calls. Initial calls that were made directed units to Rainier & Cloverdale, not Rainier and Henderson.
Overall elapsed time between calls coming in and units arriving, however, was in the range of a minute or less.
Another example of my typing skills…or lack thereof.
I heard those gunshots. I live walking distance from that corner–an 8 minute walk to be exact. And my sentiments about the mayor’s response are similar to those above. LED lighting in a couple of years. WTF?
I posted this earlier, but let me post it again. Mayor McGinn is next scheduled on Weekday on Monday, September 13th from 10-11 AM. The phone number is 206.543.KUOW / 800.289.KUOW.
Please, neighbors, let’s call. Let’s ask him challenging questions and make some demands.
Anyone remember this:
http://mcginnformayor.com/issues/neighborhoods/
http://mcginnformayor.com/issues/public-safety/
Dear Mich – I reviewed that website and laughed – I also laughed when he was running for mayor. The mayor has not done jack except open an office to pander votes in SE Seattle…and close up his office in SE Seattle.
South Seattle Cop: Thanks for the response. I was in my yard and covered with dirt at the time – since we’re almost a mile away, I can’t see what’s going on at RAS & Henderson, but the sound carries quite well. I figured somebody who was right there would call it in immediately. And silly me – I just assumed that the corner is being watched closely enough that the police would already know. . .wishful thinking, I guess!
Oops – didn’t mean to shout. Was trying to bold just the “South Seattle Cop” part. Guess I didn’t do it right.
Kathy: no prob. I am in no position to criticize anyone’s typing, as we all know.
well he did talk the talk and now the bs walks!
hit the button to quick, I should have said bikes the walk
I’m incredulous. Fact-check please! Did the Mayor really say better lighting in two years? Are there other responses?
@Concerned Citizen
I thought I heard that the 10 year old robber and his brothers were somehow related to the necklace snatchings, not 100% sure though.
You all seem to be forgetting most troubles in Belltown and Westlake come from gang bangers and their friends from the southeast, Skyway and Renton.
Why should they let your kids s**t on other neighborhoods? Better they mess up their own neighborhoods.
Interesting article – Murray gets $500,000 for anti-gang efforts in King County:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/archives/215324.asp
It sounds like LED street lights have already been installed in some parts of the city (Belltown, Central District, Capitol Hill, South Park, West Seattle, and there is a plan for other parts of the city as well. Per the article: http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2010/08/06/4943015.htm
I guess we’ll have to see how it works.
Wow…maybe we can actually beat the comment total from the classic tree cutting incident. And prove that we don’t have our priorities completely f’ed up.
We have a troll alert at #37!
@cbo: What you said!
I was on the fence with cbo’s comment, I’m trying to weigh the importance of 3 shootings in a week or someone cutting down a tree (legally) on his own property.
I can honestly say I wanted to be friends with Mark B….until the Unicorn recipe. Now…my feelings will never be the same. Never.
Damn, because I really do enjoy your writting.
I can substitute the unicorn for a Giant Panda.
But I really do enjoy your writting.
Just witnessed 2 more youths being arrested at the RAS and Henderson corner at 5:45 PM Saturday night (8/28). Neither one of the youths had shirts on and they both had their jeans hanging down past their butts! Real classy look! They were being handcuffed up against the railing in front of Rite Aid.
I saw a similar scene last night (8/27) in front of the apartments on Rainier directly across from the donut shop & Safeway gas station.
It is possible somebody stole their shirts and then tried to steal their pants.
South Seattle Cop: Should we always report gunfire immediately when we hear it? I’ve heard that even if you can’t tell where it came from that the likely location can be determined through the locations of reports?
Sending the police resources to Belltown to babysit the Belltown partiers is nothing but out and out racism. Sickening.
To the credit of the “people downtown,” that corner looked like a ghost town on Friday night because there were several cops posted there. Maybe they will ramp up patrols since there are 2 large schools opening there in a week.
Jva: The short answer is yes, I would recommend reporting it whenever you hear it.
Our dispatch center will note where the calls come from, and where the callers believe they are hearing the sounds from and feed that to the units on the street. Officers also will note where the reprots are coming from and where the callers beelive the sound is coming from and use that to try and locate the source. Officer will also use their experience and knowledge of the area, and converge on locations near the calls that have been historic trouble spots.
Most (not all but most) average citizens cannot tell the difference between fireworks and gunshots. Don’t worry about it. Err on the side of caution, unless you really do know the difference, or can tell somehow otherwise that it is only fireworks.
Sounds in cities bounce off of buildings and terrain making some sounds appear to be coming from the opposite direction of their true source. Don’t worry about it. With enough callers feeding information, we can pin down the location.
More than half of 911 calls turn out to be something totally different that what was reported. We’re used to it. If you think you hear gunfire, call in what information you have, and we’ll sort it out.
See you on the streets.
My italics appear to have gotten out of control…
“My italics appear to have gotten out of control…
“More than half of 911 calls turn out to be something totally different that what was reported.”
As is your spelling J/K
As far as the difference between fireworks and gun shots, you don’t really hear a recoil from fireworks that I’ve noticed but definitely with a gun.
Wow! my Italics took over also.
TESTING
Why can’t I turn off italics?
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