Two people were injured in a Tuesday night shooting outside of a Rainier Beach restaurant.
Police say the shooting happened just after 8 p.m. in the 9400 Block of Rainier Avenue S.
Medics on scene outside of Maya’s Restaurant worked on two adult men suffering from an unknown number of gunshot wounds. At least one of the victims required CPR.
Both men were transported to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
It’s unclear what led to the shooting and police don’t have any suspects in custody.
Several people were seen running from the area just after the shooting, but police aren’t sure if they’re suspects or if they were bystanders just trying to get away from the gunfire.
The area has been a hotbed of violence in recent months.
On January 26, two people were shot just blocks away at Rainier Avenue South and South Fisher Place. Earlier that month, two more people were shot outside of a Rainier Beach Subway restaurant.
Assistant Police Chief Nick Metz said the department is keenly aware of the recent violence in the area.
“The reality is that this isn’t a game,” Metz said. “This is not a game. We have people dying out here. We’ve seen a huge increase ( in violence) since January 1st and the department is taking this very seriously.”
CSI, homicide and gang unit detectives are investigating.
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 57 comments }
Unsurprising – the crowd hanging out around Maya’s has been dubious since last summer. I feel sorry for the legit businesses who are affected by this.
This is awful. This is the fourth shooting and it’s not even March.
These shootings are what have been defining South Seattle for WAY too long. This violence needs to stop. Rainier Beach is better than this. We can prove we are more than just shootings.
This is just upsetting.
Make the whole part of SE bike only so there will be no traffic routes for criminals to have fast getaways. All of the citizens from Portland will move here and we will have Utopia.
Call the Mayor’s office and let them know that we need patrols here. He promised more violence prevention police presence, today during his state of the city address. Let’s hold him to it!
So, we hear a bunch of gunfire and another person is dead. Everyone around here knows that Maya’s has been a problem for awhile. I brought it up on the RVP few months ago; SCC chimed in on the conversation but only to scold somebody about their attitude. Where the heck is our law enforcement? I can’t believe that we can’t do any better than this. It’s very upsetting.
Instead of bashing the community online, let’s get out there and be a part of it. Volunteer in the schools, patron the buisnesses, take walks, go to the park, etc. Police do not deter crime. Community members eyes and feet on the streets do. That is a sociologically proven method for crime deterence and violence prevention.
Dear young men who shoot each other, Why are you doing this. I am sorry for you and your brothers that you have shot down. People want to understand how to help you so you can find some love instead of hate and destruction. We all need to learn how to live civily with each other.
I heard the southbound sirens on Rainier tonight from Columbia City and wondered what was going on. We’ve lived in this neighborhood for twenty years and have many fond memories of dinners at Maya’s, but due to the parking lot crowd, we haven’t ventured there in the last several years, and it comes down to this: it’s become an increasingly scary, unpredictable and under-patrolled part of town. I’m not sure if this is the fault of the inept city government, the cops, bad parents and their rotten children, gentrification that has pushed crime south of Columbia City and north to the intersection of MLK and Rainier where there are medical marijuana dispensaries/high school students/criminals are there to mix it up, but let’s face it: the areas south of S. Graham Street and north of Genesee are No Man’s Land.
The good news is that Seattle may get a new sports arena backed by $200 million in city bonds. What gang problem in Seattle??
If you live in the Rainier Valley, I ask you, do you even care? I never really did before. Two less losers on the street, right? But instead, now, my heart is breaking. So… now what?
Live in Renton now. Purchased condo to retire on lake at Rainier Beach. I am 64-year-old white married white woman. As a small child took bus to Seattle on Rainier all the time. During 20′s to 30 commuted from Renton to Columbia City (in 70′s). Right now live in Renton Highlands since 1983. I have faith in regular hard working folks. Any chance of turning this around? Anything I could contribute considering my complete inexperience in any aspect of the community good and bad ?
We had dinner at the House of Hong last night (love the mushrooms and bok choy) then went over to Auto Zone to buy a new headlight. Commented on the way by Maya’s about the number of people hanging around and the general craziness of the parking lot scene.
Weren’t home hardly long enough to put the left overs in the fridge before I heard every cop car in Seattle barreling it down Rainier. We probably missed the incident by 10 minutes. That’s cutting it a bit close for my liking!
When all hell breaks loose at 8 on a Tuesday night, I can only imagine what the weekends will be like this summer. Does anyone get the feeling that these shooting are related? After the first one or two in January I was worried about a whole lot of retaliation shootings, but it seems like they’re all separate incidents.
I left RV one year ago today and I’ve mourned Seattle as I would a lost loved one. I decided to check out the RVP this morning and wow, things have become worse in that one year. I was living south of Graham…no man’s land, and due to all I’ve read here today, I’m glad I’m not there anymore.
I still mourn Seattle, wear a tiny silver Space Needle around my neck and have amazing memories of my years there.
I can only hope and pray things get better in my old ‘hood. I plan on reading RVP daily now.
Thanks, Amber, for a great site.
“trudy206 02.22.12 at 12:14 am
The good news is that Seattle may get a new sports arena backed by $200 million in city bonds. What gang problem in Seattle??”
Isn’t that the truth! Ugh.
What happened to Maya’s? We haven’t eaten there for a year or so… we used to enjoy bringing the kids there when we lived in the south end. Is this spill-over from the lounge, or just an ad hoc group of people who gather in their parking lot? So sorry to hear about this.
The shooting told a blatant, “I don’t give **** message”. People aren’t stupid. They know that they can get away with pretty much anything in this area because people don’t want to be bothered about what goes on in this area. People just don’t get how real it is out here on this side of town.
The mayor was on TV this morning and menrioned there have been 7 murders in Seattle already this year.
7, and at least 3 0f them basically on the same block.
And Fu*k a new stadium.
While I share the dismay at yet another shooting, I think saying that Rainier Beach is a “no man’s land” is an incorrect, damaging thing to say. We’re just supposed to write off this entire neighborhood? This neighborhood is where my family lives, shops, plays, walks, socializes. This is where my children attend (a fabulous) school, go trick-or-treating, play in the yard. There are so many wonderful people here, and the increasing crime by a very few cannot define the whole area. I really don’t want folks who happen to live north of Graham to just write this neighborhood off.
Until SPD has a safe witness protection program and Seattle can offer a “snitch” an attractive, viable alternative to criminal life on the street, our children will continue to kill each other and get away with it.
The reality is that this neighborhood is often ignored unless an “emergency” happens.
Sorry, I left my glitter wand at home this morning.
There definitely needs to be more police patrols in the South end, given the number of shootings and home invasions. I think more community involvement is key. As Well when a crowd is loitering there is no reason why a call can’t be made to the precinct. We can’t live in fear in our own neighborhoods even if- yes gentrification has changed the dynamic of these neighborhoods- we see an increase in crime. The fight must continue and stadiums have nothing do with that argument.
Things will change when our mayor changes. He only visits here for meetings. When the city council members and the mayor have to live work and play in the RV, then MAYBE things will change.
I want to know what we as a community can actively do to address the worsening violence. Amber, could you do an article on concrete steps to help build our community? Are there places we can volunteer? Are there organizations making a difference we can donate to? What suggestions does Mark Solomon have beyond reinforcing our homes? Thanks!
Rainier Valley Native has nailed it:
Until SPD has a safe witness protection program and Seattle can offer a “snitch” an attractive, viable alternative to criminal life on the street, our children will continue to kill each other and get away with it.Until SPD has a safe witness protection program and Seattle can offer a “snitch” an attractive, viable alternative to criminal life on the street, our children will continue to kill each other and get away with it.
We’re talking about a commercial street for the most part. This is not something that neighbors coming together can fix. It will take people who witness these crimes and victims of these crimes (the guy recently peppered with bird shot comes to mind) to start cooperating with the police.
The thugs know they can get away with it—and apparently many of them can as no one seems willing to “snitch.” They gain “respect” through fear and intimidation.
I live south of Graham Street as well, and love my neighborhood and neighbors, though admittedly I live a few blocks east of Rainier in a fairly stable, middle-class part of the hood. I planned to retire here and hope I still can—though I believe our property values are all rapidly declining due to the renewed perspective that it’s not safe to live in the south end.
Strange, I could have sworn that this morning on the news they said it was a fatal shooting but do not see anything updated on any of the news sites that anyone died.
Does anyone know?
SPD website is showing a homicide at Rainier and 56th Ave S this morning at 3:53am. Not sure if this is related or not.
http://web5.seattle.gov/mnm/incidentresponse.aspx
Thanks Tom T
It shows the earlier call from the 9200 block at 8:51 P.M.
And the homocide is a different call (F’ing great) so is that 2 or 3 killed in a couple block radius in less than an 8 hour period?
#24 “Amber, could you do an article on concrete steps to help build our community?” I’m sure Amber has a pretty full plate as it is — and creating a concrete community-building plan is a tall order. It’s something that the city can’t even manage to do with all its resources.
It’s apparent that the rest of the city doesn’t give a crap about the southend. What I find more unfortunate is that we can’t even get past inter-neighborhood stereotypes and work together amongst ourselves.
We can’t have a cohesive plan if people on one block have written off those on the next block. I’m saying this as someone who lives in what SnowSandDirt deems a “No Man’s Land”. FYI, it isn’t considered a no man’s land by those who live there.
Carol – I’m glad you’re OK
My daughter and I witnessed this shooting and it was terrifying. We heard 6 or 8 shots, then saw the shooter in the middle of Rainier, pointing a handgun towards the Maya’s parking lot. As he turned and headed toward our vehicle, my daughter got on the floor of the car and I got out of there as quickly as possible. I was a bit troubled by how long it took the police to answer my 911 call, and by the fact that there’s been no follow-up by police today. This violence is happening around our children and families, and I would like to feel a stronger response than this.
Both victims have died.
http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-two-men-shot-on-rainier-avenue-south-20120221,0,1785683.story
@Mark B – when I heard all the gunshots and then the sirens I turned on KOMO’s police scanner. They did CPR on one person for 10 or 15 minutes and he had no pulse. That sounds like a fatality to me, but I’m not a doctor.
We live in a great stable, working class neighborhood, and I refuse to let this turn into a war zone. If I have to take a little chair down to Maya’s and sit there, then maybe that’s what I’ll do. I realize that the police can’t arrest people for standing outside smoking – that’s what they’re supposed to do. I realize that the issues are complex, and that the blame can’t be put in any one place. I realize that it isn’t as bad here as it is in other urban areas, but that doesn’t make it okay.
Last night I freaked out because my son was supposed to be walking through where the shooting took place. I turned on the scanner and heard them talking about working on somebody who’d been shot several times, at “Rainier and Seward” which is where my son had been attacked a couple of years ago on his way home from school. This is hitting too close to home. My husband was out running errands and stopped to see what was going on. He talked to a woman who had been having dinner at Maya’s WITH HER KIDS. These fools are waving their guns around with children present. Sorry, but I can NOT abide that. Even gangstas are supposed to have a moral code, right? This is way out of bounds.
If Maya’s would go back to focusing on making good food and providing friendly service then maybe they wouldn’t have to rely solely on their bar business. But they’re just one business. I read a police report a couple of months ago where a business (including a customer) was robbed at gunpoint and the business owner would not talk to the police! The employee didn’t call 911 until a half hour after the robbery because he didn’t want to piss the owner off, and only called because a business credit card was stolen. The block isn’t going to improve if businesses won’t even protect themselves and their customers.
Okay, I thought I was calmer today – guess I’m still enraged.
Time to ride that useless pos Diaz out of town on a rail. I’ve said it before, i’ll say it again, nothing gonna change until an innocent get cut down in the crossfire (extra points if the innocent is white).
I just got off the phone with the Mayor’s office. I wanted to ask if the mayor is still planning on cutting the SPD budget. How many of you remember the mayor announcing that the SPD budget was going to be reduced because crime in the city is down?
A simple Google search of the mayor’s newsletter, The Reader, will show that in September, 2011, the mayor was talking about a $2.4 million dollar savings in the SPD budget. The SPD Blotter also discusses this here:
http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2011/09/26/chief-diazs-reflections-on-the-proposed-budget/
Stating that the savings would be realized by not filling 26 vacancies.
The Reader also boasts that the SPD response time to 911 calls: 6 min. 18 seconds, exceeding performance standards. I can run a half mile in 6 minutes and I am a middle-aged woman. I wonder how far away the shooters were last night six minutes after killing these two men.
The woman I spoke to at the mayor’s office insisted that the mayor was not considering cutting the SPD budget, and in fact, she stated that she had never heard this. Hmmm. She also stated that SPD staffing levels will remain the same in 2012 as they were for 2011. Lastly, that the SPD will be accesing “reserve funds” to launch violence prevention emphasis patrols. Well, that’s a hopeful note–although I have no idea what that means. Were staffing levels adequate in 2011? Reserve funds–are those like rainy day funds? Does that mean these patrols will stop when there is no more money?
I would love to know what the current staffing level of the South precinct is, as compared to what the staffing should be with current levels of crime.
I realize that reducing crime in our neighborhood will require more than police patrols. However, visible police patrols ARE a deterrent. And increased policing levels do allow faster 911 response time. As someone mentioned above, the shootings happened right out in the open like that–on a busy street, in front of a well-loved neighborhood business, in the early evening hours–b/c the shooters know they can get away with it.
#24: “Amber, could you do an article on concrete steps to help build our community?”
There are endless ways to work toward change, but it would require us to get off the computer and do less talking and more doing. I love having this forum to vent and share concerns, but I think it is sad that it often stops here. Someone gets killed, we get outraged, we vent and gripe online, maybe attend a community meeting, go about our daily lives, and repeat.
We lead busy lives, but there are so many opportunities to work toward change with very little time commitment. For example, you can tutor kids at New Holly once a week for an hour or two; you can read to an elementary class; you can schedule dinners out with your neighbors in less desirable areas of town; go for a walk with neighbors; be friendly and respectful to our youth; etc…
Change takes time and requires more than increased police presence. It requires the majority to get involved, even just a little bit. How badly do we really want change?
The victims were not kids – they were 41 and 33. What’s the story?
Also, I’d like to make the point that in the Subway shooting, at least two of the four people involved were from out of the area. One of the shooters is from Maple Valley, and the “boyfriend” is from Edmonds. The perception, I think, is that all of this violence is coming from local young Black males. It ain’t necessarily so…
The issue is trust. Criminals don’t trust anyone but each other to watch their backs. They don’t trust the police to protect them, maybe with good reason given the recent harassment and racial profiling abundant in SPD. They don’t trust us, so they won’t look to us for a way out of their lifestyles. The divide is expanding even greater with the dramatic income disparity in the South End. The lack of engaging South End high schools doesn’t help. Still searching for a solution, and appreciate this forum to verbalize my thought process.
One of our neighbors was talking about doing a ‘walk’ on March 5th, starting at Rainier and Henderson. Not sure if that’s still on, but I will definitely plan to attend. If nothing else it’ll be a nice way to connect to other folks in the neighborhood who are also concerned about safety issues.
I agree that we need a way to get this energy off the page and IRL. How about an RVP meet up?
I found this
http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/south-end-neighbors-meet-up-with-monica-guzman-from-p-is-big-blog/
maybe we can revive this?
I too agree that the lack of South End schools doesnt help. I am lucky to know a woman who has worked endlessly to establish an organization that reaches out/mentors the “at risk” population. Please take a moment to check out her not for profit organization. Many of you may already know her, Danielle Jackson. For those that do not, please get to know her. If she can do this much alone, think of what we could do as one.
http://www.champsseattle.net
I would love to meet ya’ll at the local spot. *Tasha gets out her ballgown*
I read about the walk on the 5th. I can not remember where I saw it but it said the area would be cleared before the walk or something to that effect.
How do they clear the area?
@Tasha 3.0
Where is the local spot? *Mark gets out his kevlar*
I would say Rookies. I have a crush on the bartender *grins and runs away*
Me too. J/K
@Diana: I understand how you feel and wish I had the answers. I don’t.
That said, I do know where you can find the only comprehensive listing of volunteer opportunities in the Rainier Valley: http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/give/
Please note, the list is woefully stale and could use an update. Is there someone out there who would like to do that?
The Rainier Valley Post is a volunteer-run, neighborhood-based forum that thrives on contributions from its readers and other members of the south-end community.
http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/got-something-to-say-say-it-at-your-rvp-13/
@Carol: Where you been, mama?
http://tinyurl.com/77fyblz
http://tinyurl.com/6u5xxns
http://tinyurl.com/86me2hn
Will LYK as soon as we figure out when/where the next one will be. Any suggestions? Maybe Orcas Landing in Hillman City?
PEOPLE:
Begin conducting your own private investigation into the potential corruption within the local police (accepting bribes from drug gangs). Also, find out where the drugs are coming from and who pays for it to come here. This may be a well organized, well funded operation. There are a few international drugs gangs operating within the Rainier Valley. Their safe houses are never targeted. Why is this?
@49. I bet you also vote for Lyndon LaRouche!
@Editor,
I been working my butt off! I will definitely come to the next one.
The hubby found this the other day… quite interesting, seattle gang map
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=200807321660978094818.00048401732d509c5523e
Comments from #49 and #51 are excellent points. I think #49 and #51 should determine if the safe houses for drugs also harbor the gangs mapped to the link above.
I have noticed something; A lot of the OG’s from the southend have come home in the last 4 months from prison doing a 10yr stint and since then alot of things have happened. Mayas is a good place to eat BUT the company that likes to loiter and ‘smoke’ outside and wave people down to ‘smoke’ in the parking HAS TO GO. If Maya’s wants to keep their restaurant they may want to invest in a security officer like the Skyway bowl did back in the day when they had all that activity popping off in their parking lot. Since this tragedy has happened I have noticed only 2 or 3 cars in their lot.
i personally blame the the fact that we can not spank our kids without noise teachers or neighbors misunderstanding discipline from abuse. so we lack installing the necessary aspect of common sense into our children. how do we as a community overcome these odds?
In the wake of all the recent shootings, street robbery, and burglary, Diana and others have used the RVP Comment Threads to ask, “What can we do to stop the violence? Is there a way we can get involved?”
The answer is yes. Go to this web-site and you can volunteer at many different organizations in SE Seattle, with “at-risk” youth.
http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/engage/volunteer.htm
Volunteer? I thought all of us were already voluntary taxpayers that paid for police to crack down on the drug lords in South Seattle. If we need to voluntarily educate the at-risk kids, maybe we should take our tax money from the police and put it where it will make a dent. How’s that for volunteerism?
This is plain ridiculous. I’ve read more than half the comments here and it’s all “What are THEY going to do to stop the crime?” …People, wake up! WE are the fathers/mothers/brother/sisters/cousins/neighbors to these kids and their families. We’ve got to save one another. I don’t know exactly how but that’s for US to figure out. Not some third party or police department. Take the power that you employ them with and use it to save your OWN neighborhood… yourself. We can make a difference if we just try.
Really, sitting here and WRITING about it makes me just as bad as you all. When really I should be out there marching, myself, with some type of sign. *sigh*
More power and blessings to those who are really working to save our neighborhood and it’s children. (LOVE)
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