* The West Seattle Herald's general policy is to not mention the name of a suspect until charged. However, in this instance, the name was mentioned in both major media outlets and in a publicly accessible police blotter. Thank you.
UPDATE 7 Jan. 24
Who is Cid Chambers?
A regular at the Feedback Lounge spoke anonymously to the West Seattle Herald. That Morgan Junction pub is where murder suspect, Lovett J. Chambers, known there best as "Cid", also hung out, and where he allegedly followed Micheal Hood, the 36-year-old victim, out the door before shooting him Saturday night. Hood died Sunday. Chambers has not been formally charged but his name was released by other Seattle media today. Normally however, our policy is to refrain from publishing the name until a suspect is in fact formally charged.
"Cid came in a lot, so when customers looked up the incident on the King County website before his name was released, they had their suspicions that it was Cid because of the vehicle description. (BMW) Many from other bars new him, like at RockSport, where he was also a regular. From what I understand, his other criminal troubles happened many years ago. For me, you think you know someone, then realize you didn't know him at all, it was really a shock.
"The whole thing is incredibly sad. Now I wonder, 'What was he thinking? He got along great with everyone. He'd always come in alone, always sit at the bar, shoot the shi*, and drink Bloody Mary's. He seemed like just a regular, all-round good guy who knows everyone around Seattle and goes to the popular bars. He talked about working on his house. He brought in his camera and talked to other customers about photography. I'm surprised he carried a gun. I just can't understand what he was thinking.
"I think he drank every day, but didn't seem out of control. He seemed to have it together even when he drank."
UPDATE 6 Jan. 23:
Three news organizations identify the suspect as Lovett J. Chambers, 63, and say he is being held on $1 million bail.
UPDATE 5 Jan. 23
King County prosecutors set bail at $1 million for the 63-year-old West Seattle male suspect being investigated for homicide in the Saturday night shooting of a 36-year-old man near the Morgan Street Junction.
According to probable cause documents, the suspect - described as a black male, 63-years-old, 6ft 3in, 200 pounds - was a regular at the Feeback Lounge in West Seattle and known by many patrons.
On the night of the shooting, police say the suspect (who will not be named until formally charged) was seen “glaring” at Micheal Hood, the 36-year-old victim.
No one witnessed an altercation between Hood and the suspect, but when Hood left the bar witnesses said the suspect followed him outside and approached him aggressively.
When Hood armed himself with a shovel from the back of his truck, witnesses allege the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot Hood four times in the chest. Spent .45 caliber shell casings were found at the scene.
Hood died from his injuries early Sunday.
The suspect fled the scene in a white BMW and witnesses were able to identify both the man and his license plate number. When police arrived at the suspect’s Gatewood neighborhood home they apprehended him and recovered the .45 caliber pistol as evidence.
According to court documents, the suspect admitted the gun was his, that it was in his car at the time of the shooting, and that the spent shell casings at the scene of the murder would likely match his gun.
The suspect allegedly admitted to investigators that he has been convicted of bank robbery. An FBI background check found convictions for several armed robberies, kidnapping for ransom, and rape. The suspect has several aliases and social security numbers, according to police.
The deadline for filing charges against the suspect is Jan. 25, according to prosecutors.
UPDATE 4 Jan. 23
The Seattle Police Department has confirmed the 36-year-old victim died of his injuries early Sunday morning. The suspect, arrested on Sunday, is now being investigated for homicide.
UPDATE 3 7:43 am:
The Seattle Police Department posted these detail on the police blotter.
On 1/21/12 at approximately 9:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to a shots fired call in the 6500 block of California Av SW. The call was updated with the suspect and the victim leaving northbound in separate cars.
Several witnesses were located and interviewed. The victim and his car were located in the 4800 block of 35 SW. The victim was shot 4 times in the chest.
Utilizing good investigative techniques, patrol officers were able to locate an address for the suspect. The Anti Crime Team & Gang Detectives responded to the suspect’s address. The suspect was arrested and the gun recovered. Homicide and CSI responded and processed the scene. As of 2:00 a.m., the 36-year-old male victim was still alive at an area hospital. His injuries are life threatening. The suspect, an adult male was booked into King County Jail for Investigation of assault.
UPDATE 2:
The victim was at the east entrance when police and ambulance came. The shooting took place south, off of California Ave near the Morgan Street Junction and according to police on the scene the victim drove to Mt. St. Vincent seeking medical attention. Homicide detectives combed the scene for evidence. The victim was shot either getting into or out of his truck which is still at the scene and according to police at last report he was still alive at the hospital.
A suspect has been arrested, according to police, at his home.
Original report:
A white male in his 40's received four gun shot wounds to the chest and he was shot by a 9mm or 40mm handgun at about 9:45 pm tonight and taken to Harbor View with serious injury. The assault took place outside of the building, east entrance. Many police, ambulances on the scene. Medics performed CPR while he was taken to hospital.
Shell casings were recovered at the scene.
Employees at Beveridge Place Pub and the Feedback Lounge when questioned said they did not see anything.
More details as they become available.
