Two teenagers were shot in the back Tuesday night as they left a Rainier Beach restaurant after having dinner with friends.
According to Seattle Police Department (SPD), the group of five was immediately fired upon at about 6:45pm as they exited King Donuts & Teriyaki at Rainier Avenue South and 51st Avenue South next to Rainier Beach Safeway.
Numerous SPD and Seattle Fire Department (SFD) units responded to at least five 911-calls as the teens, including one of the injured, retreated back into the restaurant, and the shooter – said to be a young black male in his late teens or early 20s – drove away.
The victims were transported to Harborview with non life-threatening injuries.
Tensions were high at the scene and Assistant Chief of Police Nick Metz said that responding officers broke up several fights. A group of a dozen young men were seen fleeing north on Rainier on foot.
SPD’s gang and homicide units are investigating.
Top: All sorts of top brass were on the scene tonight, including Assistant Chief of Police Nick Metz who addressed the media. Photos/do communications, inc.
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{ 43 comments }
Here we go, It sucks that they can not even wait until after dark to start shooting. this is the reason I do not like to go to that area (Rainier & Henderson)
This is really an unfortunate situation. Things began to stabilize in this area until last fall and now it appears to be getting worse again.
I hate to be a cynic, but it does seem as though SPD continues to miss the boat on opportunities to partner with the community (read earlier article on Sexual Predator Meeting) or to take advantage of technology. How hard would it have been to send out an email, let the local community councils know about the meeting, or contact the crime council? A little extra planning on the front end significantly increases the likelihood of success.
As far as technology goes, why can’t SPD utilize tools like Twitter? As the car sped away someone must have noted a general description – if SPD started twittering people who were receptive to receiving active crime updates, the likelihood of catching criminals would increase significantly.
What is the purpose of “breaking up fights that broke out on the scene?” If tensions were so high that people were physically lashing out they should have been arrested/detained so they couldn’t drive to Tukwila, West Seattle, or the CD to retaliate.
I am so down with a march against violence right now!
yeah but the captain of the precinct will chortle about how few fatalities there have been in our neighborhood. I am really getting tired of this.
Interesting that Chief Metz -chief of patrol I believe – was at the scene. Perhaps Capt Liggins days are numbered.
The earlier comments on Twitter are good. Several cities in the US are using this and citizens are helping the police. Here is a link to success in Lakeland, Florida:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/13/police.social.networking/index.html
I am so discouraged by all of the recent reports of violence in this area, which is right where I live.
Any bets on when/where the “retaliation” shooting will occur? Any bets on whether our “Mayor” or acting Police Chief will acknowledge there is a gang problem here?
On the news they said “at least one of the victims is in the youth 180 program”
Surprised?
Looks like the retaliation shooting may have already happened. There were shots fire at 1100 26th Ave in the CD last night at 10:39pm. More info at http://www.centraldistrictnews.com/2009/05/05/cd-news-police-scanner-5-5
Come on out Myra! The next March4Youth meeting is 5/11 at 4pm, Tully’s at Rainier and Genesee. We can always use more help! Specifically, we need stage management and a speaker/entertainment booking coordinator, mc, probably a re-work of our poster, we’ll need crews the day of the march (June 20, 12noon -4ish) — set up, tear down, cooking, hauling (also week prior pick-ups and hauling), crowd control, geez can’t think of all the ways someone might help out!
dg
we do need to March against violence. in the mean time these kids are not purchasing guns from gunshops – there are areas in which adults need to assume responsibility for the fact that adults are buying and distributing guns. Older “gang” members are not the ones buying guns from gun shops either- npt with their criminal record!
So who is ? And why are they selling the guns to kids who they know will happily use firearms to inflict death on other Black kids ?
Gone are the days when shootings happened over drug deals gone bad- this is really sick and we cannot expect the kids to figure out how to make it end.
I am happy as hell one of the victims who is one of my favorite young men is going to be alright! I have been praying for him for years becouse I know what he is up against and hope some more people will start praying for these kids.
many of them are true blessings and if they can make it twenty , then thirty alive…maybe they can can up with the solutions that we cant.
I will be there.
So many of us have become desensitized by all of the violence. Seeing police cars fly by is just as common as seeing the mail man.
“Seeing police cars fly by is just as common as seeing the mail man.”
Actualy you only see the mailman once a day.
I drove by just moments after it happened, and only because I had pulled over to let officers fly past me. I was pleased to see five different squad cars on the scene, though, and that this is hitting mainstream Seattle news.
“We need our own Precinct”
We have an awesome Burrito Bus how about a Riot Bus in the same parking lot (a bit west).
Let’s find the RAPIST, neighbors and put that fucker away.
I guess my prediction was right – looks like there was a retaliation shooting – wonder if it involved any of the people who the police released that were fighting at the scene?
Additional gun control? It won’t work. There are already lots of laws on the books that prohibit teens from owning handguns – the same laws prevent them from being sold from teenagers, and the same laws exist that do not allow individuals to break into houses or cars and steal firearms – a lot of the kids who are caught with guns are arrested and released within a short period of time. What happened to judges who look out for the safety of the community and support stronger sentences for criminals? Or, maybe prosecutors are set up for failure and need to plea down cases because of budget constraints. In either case, more legislation on firearms won’t work.
We need to focus on healing the community, better mentoring programs, better school systems, better economic development in the community that can support jobs for kids in our neighborhood, and better programs/services for the youth in the community.
SSSL
Ugh. This is a really unfortunate situation……i”m afraid the violence will escalate once school gets out and the weather gets better. Hopefully the Mayor has noticed the plight of South Seattle and will take an interest.
@ Tom…..Tom, could you use your last initial. Several people have asked if I am you and I’m not you. To be clear, Tom A. is not the same person as the person who posts under the name of Tom.
To Tom A,
I’ll post as Tom T from now on to avoid confusion.
Apologies,
Tom T
Thanks SSSL!
Tom A agreed everytime the sun comes out it’s one big party down here can’t wait for summer!
David M
David Mullarkey said, “We need our own Precinct”
Now there’s a thought. Maybe we need mini-precincts.
Lovely, that’s great that you know one of the victims and are praying for them. Prayers are definitely needed. Maybe it’s time to allow God back in our public schools.
“What happened to judges who look out for the safety of the community and support stronger sentences for criminals?”
Our communities do NOT need to have their youth locked up, jails and prisons are terrible system that don’t provide any longing to go back into “society” and be peaceful. Prisons take away your life and make you angry as HELL! That is DEFINITELY not the right way to stop youth violence. And when your friend, or brother, or son, or cousin get shot like in this case of coarse your goin to be angry because this has been happening so much in our communities and it usually doesnt get very much publicity at all and when you know 8 people who have been killed and more that has been shot with in the last year you get a little frustrated with this messed up system and find some way to vent. All everyone needs in this world is love and caring but we are not showin that to our youth like it needs to be shown. They constantly get sent to court for missing school and we make that their fault but no one looks at all the stuff goin on in their lives.
We really need to train and police the police. Most officers aren’t even from where their patroling so their commin into our streets with preconceived ideas of what goes on here and how to handle it, but who knows our streets like the people who actually live here? Anyways I can go on about this forever because there’s so much that needs to be done but I’ll leave it at that for now. And just take time to listen to someone who’s been affected personally it’ll help them and you. Much love, peace, and harmony
I Don’t truly understand how adults can sit here ridiculing and critisizing today’s youth.
The same people who are complaining about what goes on in the neighborhood are the exact same people that aren’t helping us out.
How dare you sit behind a computer and judge me when your not the people who are out here living the life that I live.
As youth were affected by ageism which does’nt help our situation as fucked up as it is.
There are programs out there FOR the Youth BY the Youth but when there are assholes out here in the world like you people telling us that we need too be locked up and put under the earth for the rest of our lives were scared too turn to programs like the one i’m apart of because of being looked down upon or talked about.
Not knowing these children and then not knowing there past is even worse. Then have the audacity to wonder why were so angry.
Give them a chance, get to know them before you rule them out into the system. You live in this community just as well as they do so put an end to it before it becomes someone you love or care for.
P.S
They were on their way too a violence prevention meeting when it happened. So think before you speak.
@ Anelise and @ Mook
For the most part, I agree with your perspectives, but I differ in one area – I don’t believe all of the criminals can be rehabilitated. Not sure where in my postings any references were made for locking up juveniles, but I understand the intent of your postings and want to clear things up. I’m all for giving kids and adults second and third chances but at a certain point you have to give up and move on to those who are willing to change. Sometimes people aren’t willing to change.
Let me ask you this, the person who was shot that was on his way to an anti-violence meeting, why was he shot? Was it because his peers didn’t want him to go to the meeting? How would you feel if your son was shot and paralyzed by someone who was arrested and set free after one year for assault? Or, would you want the person who shot your son to be released immediately because you wouldn’t want him any more angry because he could do something even worse than paralyzying your son?
Anyway, there are no easy answers. The real issue is we need to fix the schools, fix broken families, find jobs/activities for the familes and community members of the CD and Southeast Seattle – and most importantly work together as a community. Unfortunately communities need to have some structure which includes rules to protect the innocent.
Anyway, let me know how you’d answer the questions above?
SSSL
@lovely — you know why they are out there selling guns.
For MONEY — the big indicator of success, provider of luxury, etc.
Isn’t that really what our whole society is about — how to screw over others so that you can get a lot of money and live better than average or ordinary people. I mean who wants to be ordinary? Don’t you need an $80,000 vehicle. I don’t — like this body, a car is just transportation. It is all about money. Free trade — no such thing, we pay huge costs so that Nike can have slaves in Vietnam… Let’s get real folks, we all support this crap… , just loook at what you are buying… !
DG
I think some of you guys should really take the time out to evaluate what you guys say before you say it. Get the full story before you try to comment on it. Because like Mook said, they were on there way to a violence prevention meeting. I’m reading some comments that say stuff like “i’m tired of this” and “this is why I don’t go to that area”… or something of that nature. Any who, if you guys are so tired go out and do something about it. If you feel like you should have to limit your self to certain parts of town that you travel to then you must be aware that there is a problem here. Avoiding it is not the solution, if any thing your just leaving room for this problem to grow and progress. That’s why violence amongst youth is beginning to show repetition, and with repetition things become instilled in our minds. With that being said, pretty much every one leaving comments has addressed the issue. Which means it’s been made pretty clear by now, so if we care enough to comment, lets start addressing some solutions. Because no one needs a constant reminder of what’s already been put right in front of them. So if your tired of this and your affected (which is every one because what affects one directly, can affect others in-directly) be the change that you wanna see in the community. Because the at risk youth don’t care to know what you know or how much you know, until they know how much you care.
I think some of you guys should really take the time out to evaluate what you guys say before you say it. Get the full story before you try to comment on it. Because like Mook said, they were on there way to a violence prevention meeting. I’m reading some comments that say stuff like “i’m tired of this” and “this is why I don’t go to that area”… or something of that nature. Any who, if you guys are so tired go out and do something about it. If you feel like you should have to limit your self to certain parts of town that you travel to then you must be aware that there is a problem here. Avoiding it is not the solution, if any thing your just leaving room for this problem to grow and progress. That’s why violence amongst youth is beginning to show repetition, and with repetition things become instilled in our minds. With that being said, pretty much every one leaving comments has addressed the issue. Which means it’s been made pretty clear by now, so if we care enough to comment, lets start addressing some solutions. Because no one needs a constant reminder of what’s already been put right in front of them. So if your tired of this and your affected (which is every one because what affects one directly, can affect others in-directly) be the change that you wanna see in the community. Because the at risk youth don’t care to know what you know or how much you know, until they know how much you care.
P.s Thank you to those where praying for the victims.
Of all the postings Boug had the most succinct and poignant quote
“Because the at risk youth don’t care to know what you know or how much you know, until they know how much you care. ”
Boug, I ran into someone who is on the Crime Council and they told me the full story about the young man who was shot. They have been hosting a dinner group for some of the at risk folks and it sounded like a wonderful program. I wonder how the hosts feel now? I don’t think they should stop their work but I do wonder how safe the attendees of these functions are going forward.
I take Boug’s poignant quote to be “be the change you want to see in the community.” Everybody’s heard it and everybody knows it’s true. We’ve defined the hell out of the problem here at the RVP – time to get to work if we want to see something different happen.
RVP readers should be asking how we can support the “dinner group for some of the at risk folks” and do what we can to make it a safer place. Of course it wouldn’t be a same place if it were an isolated haven, unsupported by a fearful community who finds it problematic.
What can we do to help, Boug?
Everybody looking for something constructive to do about youth violence should try to make the March for Youth planning meeting this Monday at 4pm at the Tully’s on Rainier and Genesee and mark your calendars for the march — noon on June 20th.
http://hooleintelligence.blogspot.com/2009/05/march-rally-supporting-central-district.html
Lots of people are being that change…….the dangerous minority is ruining the construct of the community for the majority.
Boug i dnt think i could have said it much better myself. We as teens can only set the example for future generations too come and hope that the ones before us will help us too maintain a positive image in our communities as well as others affected by the violence.
M.A.D (Making A Difference) was affected deeply by the shooting as well as other incidents that have happened and the one at the dinner was none the less why I love doing violence prevention- and youth advocacy. So that we can raise awareness and i’m glad too see that there are people out there who notice and do realize that this is something they should be taking apart in.
We can’t do it by ourselves and if we don’t take the initiative to do it on our own it won’t be done at all. That being said regardless of how many people help there is always room for more. The old saying is never take anything for granted. Whats here today can be gone tommorow and we don’t need more lives diminishing away if there are ways too save them. -Mook
@ SouthSeattleScarlettLetter
You said you wonder how the hosts feel….
To many feelings at once to describe, but over all I feel motivated to continue to do what I’ve been doing. This unfortunate event is just the reminder me and my group needed, of why we started our organization in the first place. Thanks to the victims, i’m continuously being inspired.
@ John
If your interested in attending one of our dinners, i’ll be glad to give you information on the next one. You should start by maybe trying the youth march, My organization plans on attending and you can learn a little bit more about us there.
That’s great Boug. You and the crime council do great work. I hope the dinners continue to go well.
@Boug
Funny how no one knew we were the hosts of the dinner huh . . lol
That’s pretty funny what you can’t realize what’s right in front of you .
@SSSL
My feelings are the same as Boug being a host of the dinner makes me feel even more obligated too do our job. Thanks for your other comments about being articulate and hoping I prosper makes me feel good too hear a positive comment. I plan too do those things.
Thanks Boug. Do hit me w/ info on the next dinner:jhooleatgmaildotcom I want to attend. I’ll bring salad. Thanks for doing what you’re doing.
@ John
Dinners already paid for but thanks for the offer. Bring yourself and some good ideas.
What about the rights of the people who live in this comunity? Why are the parents of these minors not being held responsible? The guns and violence seem to be increasing. Seattle City Council, we need answers. Seattle PD, Tukwila – Renton, Don’t let city jurisdictions be an excuse.
The Mayor is focused in other areas and the youth gang initiative has yet to really materialize. Tim Burgess should be spending more time in our area but it seems as though he is figuring out what his next political career step will be. He is the council member in charge of the Public Safety Committee.
@ Boug/Mook and others, I will make a donation to the crime council to keep the dinners flowing. Best of luck.
Tess asked: “What about the rights of the people who live in this comunity? Why are the parents of these minors not being held responsible? ”
Just an fyi — some of their parents are being held responsible and they are already in prison/jail… There isn’t only one place to try to place the blame….
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