April 2026

South Delridge neighbors demand action after critical shooting at public land encampment

Residents of South Delridge are demanding immediate government intervention following a violent shooting at a long-standing encampment that has left a man fighting for his life. The incident, which occurred on April 28, 2026, has sparked a community-led petition calling for the City of Seattle and King County to address what neighbors describe as a "life-threatening" public safety crisis.

The petition is here

 

A Violent Escalation

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Seattle Public Safety Committee addresses Little Saigon crisis as drug arrests surge 47%

The Seattle Public Safety Committee of the Seattle City Council convened on April 28, 2026, to address what Chair Robert Kettle described as the "alarming" lack of progress in resolving the public safety crisis in Little Saigon. During the meeting, committee members and the public grappled with new data showing a sharp rise in law enforcement activity alongside a decline in social service diversions.

See the YouTube video of the meeting here.

Police Data Shows Sharp Rise in Arrests

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UPDATE: West Seattle attempted kidnapping suspect formally charged
Ball remains at $750,000

Update 4:35pm

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has formally charged a 22-year-old Seattle man with Attempted Kidnapping in the Second Degree following a West Seattle incident. The defendant remains in jail on the $750,000 bail set by a judge.

The defendant’s next court date is his arraignment, where an initial plea is entered. That’s scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 4, in courtroom 1201 of the King County Courthouse. Defendants are innocent until proven guilty in court.

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Fences Down: Morgan Junction Park expansion site opens to public ahead of final construction

Neighbors in West Seattle can finally step onto the long-awaited expansion of Morgan Junction Park. Seattle Parks and Recreation has removed the fencing around the .47-acre parcel immediately north of the existing park, marking a major milestone in a project over a decade in the making.

The site, located at 6401 California Ave SW, is now open as a remediated grass area, providing interim public access before the second phase of construction begins.

A Clean Slate for the Community

The opening follows the completion of extensive environmental work. Purchased in 2014, the expansion site required significant soil remediation due to contamination from a historic dry-cleaner. Throughout 2025, crews worked to remove hazardous soil, install shoring, and backfill and re-grade the lot.

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Shooting in encampment near Delridge Way sends male to hospital in critical condition

Information from Seattle Police Blotter

Detectives are investigating a shooting Tuesday morning in South Delridge that left a man critically injured.  

At about 10:50 a.m., officers were dispatched to reports of shooting near the 9200 block of 17th Avenue Southwest (alley to the west). Officers arrived and found a 32-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the back. Officers provided aid until Seattle Fire Department arrived and the victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.

The investigation revealed the victim was shot in a small encampment. The suspect left the scene in an unknown direction before officers arrived.

Detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit will be leading the investigation and will work to determine what led to the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle Police Department Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.  

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Two men charged in West Seattle drug rip-off that ended in homicide
A third defendant pleads guilty -- He fled the scene as shots were fired

Information from the United States Department of Justice

Two men who traveled to Seattle from Texas to rob a marijuana dealer in November 2022, were indicted this week by the federal grand jury for additional federal felonies connected to the robbery and fatal shooting in West Seattle, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Carlton Pierre Mitchell, 30, and Aaron Thompson, 42, will be arraigned on the superseding indictment on May 7, 2026. The men are charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and crime of violence. 

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Sports Watch 4-29-26

By Tim Clinton

Sports Editor

A dense lineup of high school, collegiate, and professional action is happening in late April and extending through the first week of May. High school programs are in the midst of their spring seasons, with a heavy concentration of baseball, fastpitch softball, and boys soccer matches scheduled at various local fields. Key events include baseball matchups between local rivals like Bellevue and Mt. Rainier, as well as a busy Friday night of soccer featuring teams like O'Dea and Ballard.

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Sports Roundup 4-28-26

By Tim Clinton

Sports Editor

Last week was a busy period for Westside sports, characterized by dominant shutouts in baseball and high-scoring offensive explosions in fastpitch softball.

Ballard high school had a particularly strong showing across multiple sports, including a crushing 11-1 baseball victory over Lakeside and a 10-0 shutout against Rainier Beach. Chief Sealth also displayed defensive prowess in baseball, recording two separate 10-0 victories over Rainier Beach during the week.

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Lancer grads play spring football for UW

By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

Three Kennedy Catholic graduates are gearing up along with the rest of the University of Washington football team for Friday's spring intrasquad game at Husky Stadium.

The so-called "Dawgs After Dark" event starts at 6:30 p.m.

Practices started at the end of March and concluded Tuesday afternoon.

The Huskies' roster includes Lancers' graduates Xe'ree Alexander and Lowen Colman-Brusa and Derek Colman-Brusa.

Alexander returns as a senior linebacker and Lowen Colman-Brusa as a redshirt freshman offensive lineman.

His brother Derek Colman-Brusa looms large as a true freshman defensive lineman.

 

lancers to Huskies

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Jerry's View: Be careful what you wish for

by Jerry Robinson

Publisher Emeritus 1920-2014

With a break from building airplanes at Boeing's plant #2 in Seattle, I wanted to go see my mom on Mother's Day in the city of Roses. It was an innocent event. I needed a ride to Portland in 1943 so I stood on the street corner at 170th and highway 99 near our house in McMicken Heights. SeaTac Airport was still six years from landing planes. It was a lonely corner back then. 

My low finances meant a bus was not an option. I thumbed a ride, wishing for a series of hops from south-going travelers. I wasn't on the corner more than 15 minutes when a four-door sedan stopped. I jumped in to join three women. "where ya headed," they asked. "Portland," I said.  I sat comfortably in the rear seat next to a woman named Ester. In the front seat, Noreen.

The  sedan was driven by "Marge", a woman about 40. The other women were younger, maybe early to mid 30's. I was all of 23.

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