Shooting at Cafe Racer in Roosevelt (UPDATES)

May 30, 2012 by 5 Comments

UPDATE (Thursday, May 31): Around 10 PM last night, the suspect and a fourth victim at Cafe Racer were reported to have both died of their injuries. Here is the AP story.

As of this morning, the only survivor of the shootings at Cafe Racer, Leonard Meuse, has had his condition upgraded from critical to serious. He is expected to recover.

UPDATE (5:46 PM): Many news outlets, including this one, had erroneously reported that the suspect had died of his injuries. He is, in fact, alive and continuing to receive treatment at Harborview (via the Seattle Police twitter feed).

UPDATE (5:02 PM): Seattle Police has confirmed that the suspect in the Cafe Racer shootings has died from his self-inflicted gunshot wound. Reported in error.

And they also confirm that the shooting at 8th and Seneca this morning is connected to the suspect.

More on all of that in the Seattle Times (“Suspect in Seattle slayings kills himself”).

And also at the Seattle Times, some good news: The chef at Cafe Racer, who was among those shot this morning, is doing well.

UPDATE (4:34 PM): Just as we were receiving reports of officers arresting someone in the vicinity of 47th Ave NE and Roosevelt Way NE, there are now reports that the suspect in the Roosevelt shootings was found in West Seattle. When approached by officers, he then turned the gun on himself. Police are saying that this individual was suspected in the shootings in Cafe Racer, but are not commenting on his condition at this time.

More detail from the tail end of the Mayor’s news conference by Assistant Chief James Pugel: Plain closed officers in West Seattle recieved images of the suspect as they were patrolling. One officer identified the suspect and called in uniformed officers to assist. Suspect saw the uniformed officers closing in, knelt down in the street, and shot himself in the head.

Our friends at the West Seattle Blog will have more information on this latest shooting (37th Ave SW and Raymond St) at their website.

UPDATE (4:12 PM)Assistant Chief of the Seattle Police Department, James Pugel, spoke during the Mayor’s live conference this afternoon. Below is the summary:

Just before 11 AM, two 911 call came in: One saying shots fired at 59th and roosevelt, the other transferred to fire, “Dual distpatch” occurs, and both police and fire are dispatched to the scene, arriving at the same time. Police find five people down inside, and no suspect on scene. Two victims were dead at the scene, the others were triaged and transferred to Harborview. Dectectives, gang units, homicide and robbery, UW police, SPD officers on loan to the FBI all showed up to the scene. The area was canvassed, and a K-9 unit was called in. Evidence recovery is ongoing. Pictures from the scene have now been release. He has not been positively identified yet. The 8th and Seneca shooting call comes in around a half hour later.

UPDATE (2:42 PM):Seattle Police department reports that another of the shooting victims has died. Speculation online is that the victims are members of the band God’s Favorite Beefcake, but this is unconfirmed at this time.

UPDATE (12:56 PM):More to add to suspect’s description (via Casey McNerthney’s twitter feed):”New detail about North Seattle shooter: police say his black and white has a white collar. Has dark shirt over it.”

UPDATE (12:30 PM): Vis Casey McNerthney’s twitter feed: “Police telling Ravenna residents to stay inside, not open their doors as search for shooter is nearing second hour.”

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Seattle Fire and police responded to a shooting at Cafe Racer (5828 Roosevelt Way NE) right around 11 AM.

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GREG GILBERT / Photo courtesy THE SEATTLE TIMES

Two of the five shooting victims have died, both male. Three other victims include a woman, all of whom have been transported to Harborview Medical Center. The Associated Press reports that all three are in critical condition (12:37 PM, via twitter).

Suspect is still at large. His description is “Suspect is a wht man, 6’1, very thin, curly light brn hair, wearing a white & brn plaid shirt, a long sleeve shirt, and dark pants” via the Seattle Police Department Twitter feed.

Area schools and community centers are on lockdown or operating normally with doors locked.

Updates can be found at the links below, and on our twitter feed, as news develops:

Filed Under: 911, Bryant Elementary School, Crime, Eckstein Middle School, Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center, Roosevelt, Roosevelt High School, Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Police Department, Updates

North Link Light Rail Update: QFC closing, Brooklyn Station naming, street greening

April 26, 2012 by 15 Comments

Roosevelt Station updates

Signs of impending light rail construction are bittersweet, aren’t they? The FUTURE is coming, but the neighborhood has to make room for it first.

Case in point, the Roosevelt QFC’s last day is Saturday, May 12. Roosiehood reports that the store’s staff will be transferred to other local QFC stores. According to the Seattle Times, the Roosevelt QFC was the first in the chain, opening in 1955.

The other recent sign of the impending FUTURE is the Standard Radio building being dismantled. Sound Transit’s contractor has removed the Vitrolite glass tiles from the building’s exterior. In May, the curved canopy and its neon lettering will be removed, and stored for later use in the station.

And one last bit of Roosevelt Station-related news: The stretch of NE 66th St (from I-5 to 15th Ave NE) identified by the Seattle City Council as a “Green Street”* is getting a planning committee (made up of Sound Transit and “neighborhood representatives and city staff”). For more on “Green Streets,” visit the City of Seattle’s website here.

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In other North Link Light Rail news, there are some upcoming events for Brooklyn Station (or whatever you choose call it) that you might be interested in…

Brooklyn Station Construction Open House

Tuesday, May 1, from 6-8:30 PM, at the Neptune Theatre (1303 NE 45th St). Presentation starts at 6:30.

Agenda items include:

  • Revised construction schedule
  • Updated street, sidewalk and parking restriction plans
  • Construction noise and the nighttime noise variance process
  • Potential construction mitigation measures
  • Station naming

Brooklyn Station 60% Design Open House

Wednesday, May 23, from 6-8:30 PM, at the Neptune Theatre. Presentation starts at 6:30.

Agenda items include:

  • Design plans for Brooklyn Station
  • Initial concepts for station art
  • Station naming

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* Not the same as a “Greenway,” by the way. Here’s a Seattle Department of Transportation page on “Greenways.”

Filed Under: Businesses, City Council, Construction, History, Light Rail, Meeting, Photos, Roosevelt, Seattle Department of Transportation, University District

LIVE update on Ravenna Blvd paving from Mayor on Wednesday

March 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Mayor Mike McGinn was live from NE Ravenna Blvd Wednesday morning at 11 AM for a “Ravenna Blvd Paving and Road Maintenance Update.” Watch the archived video below:

Filed Under: Construction, Green Lake, Mayor's Office, Ravenna, Roosevelt, Seattle Department of Transportation, Traffic, Updates, Video

One dead after early morning shooting in Ravenna Park (UPDATE)

March 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

UPDATE (Sunday, March 11): The Seattle P-I’s Casey McNerthney reports that the suspect arrested for the shooting was the shooter himself. He is being held on $500,000 bail and will be charged on Monday, March 12.

You can read more about the Ravenna Park shooting suspect on the Seattle P-I’s Seattle 911 blog.

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One man is dead after a shooting near the Ravenna Park Softball Fields. One man is in custody at this time, and police are looking for two others.


View Ravenna Park Shooting in a larger map

From the Seattle Police Department blotter:

On 3/8/12, at approximately 4:15 a.m., a man was shot in Ravenna Park (55 NE and NE 25th). The victim, a man 40-50 years old, suffered a gunshot wound to the upper left-arm chest area. He is being transported to Harborview Medical Center by Seattle Fire Medics with life threatening injuries.

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According to witnesses, the 3 suspects came into the park and an argument ensued between the suspects and victim. The victim challenged the suspect at which point the suspect fired upon the victim. Unknown how may shots were fired.

The suspects ran off W/B from that location. Nothing further on the suspects.

The injured man was taken to Harborview Medical Center where he has since died of his injuries.

We will update this post as more information becomes known.

This is the second violent attack this year in Ravenna Park: A man and woman were beaten with a baseball bat on the morning of January 12.

Filed Under: 911, Crime, Ravenna, Ravenna Park, Seattle Police Department, Updates

Collision on 25th Ave NE sends SUV into yard (PHOTOS)

March 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Picture of the scene from a neighbor, received via twitter

At approximately 2:17 PM, Seattle Fire Department units responded to a Heavy Rescue call just south of the intersection of NE 65th St and 25th Ave NE. A car and an SUV had collided, sending the SUV up over the sidewalk on the west side of 25th Ave NE and onto a residence’s front yard.

Photo by John Eddy

Seattle Fire Department PIO Kyle Moore said that one person was taken out of the SUV and was conscious. A bystander at the scene reported that the SUV occupant “was going off in a neck brace in the ambulance,” and that the other car “had damage to the left rear quarter.”

Photo by John Eddy

Thank you to Duncan, John, and Eric for their information gathering assistance for this post.

Filed Under: 911, Photos, Ravenna, Seattle Fire Department, Traffic

March Story Time Schedule for the Northeast Branch

March 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

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The Seattle Public Library’s Northeast Branch (6801 35th Ave NE) Children’s Services Librarian, Erica Delavan, sent out the March Story Time schedule this week:

Toddler Story Time (Geared for ages 1-3)
Thursdays, March 1, 8, 22, 29 at 10:15 & 11:15 a.m.

Preschool Story Time (Geared for ages 3-5)
Tuesdays, March 6, 20, 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Pajamas & Puppets (All Ages)
Wednesday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m.

Filed Under: City Services, Families, Kids, Northeast Branch, Northeast Seattle

Time to apply for city-wide summer Seattle Parks & Recreation jobs

February 28, 2012 by 1 Comment

Click to see the whole 2012 Summer Recreation Employment brochure (571 KB PDF)

It may still be winter, according to the calendar, but Seattle Parks and Recreation is already looking for summer employees.

The 2012 Summer Recreation Employment brochure is out, and chock full of seasonal jobs, including:

  • Special Needs Youth Counselor
  • Boat Ramp Ranger
  • Lifeguard
  • Wading Pool Attendant
  • Day Camp Director, Counselor, and Jr. Counselor
  • and more!

Volunteer opportunities are also available (go to the Seattle Parks Volunteers homepage for more information).

All current Seattle Parks and Recreation employment opportunities are listed on the main City of Seattle employment homepage.

Filed Under: City Services, Jobs, Kids, Northeast Seattle, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Volunteer Tagged With: , , , ,

Semi overturns on I-5, lands on NE Ravenna Blvd on-ramp (PHOTOS, UPDATES)

February 14, 2012 by 2 Comments

Just after 11 AM, reports the Seattle Times, a semi and a car collided on southbound I-5, sending the semi rolling over a barrier to land on the NE Ravenna Blvd on-ramp.

Mike Murphy at the Washington State Department of Transportation (also of Lynnwood Today, one of our fellow Seattle Times Local News Partnership sites) sent us these photos of the accident scene, taken by WSDOT’s traffic cameras not long after the incident occurred.

At the time of writing, all four southbound lanes of I-5 have reopened to traffic, but may be closed intermittently (along with the northbound express lanes) for the removal of the debris. The NE Ravenna Blvd on-ramp is expected to be closed for some time.

According to the Seattle Times, three occupants of the car sustained only minor injuries, and the semi driver was okay. An update on the conditions of all four people involved in the collision is below.

Seattle P-I photojournalist Josh Trujillo has a couple photographs taken from the on-ramp itself.

UPDATE (4:17 PM): The Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Line blog has updated information on the three car passengers and semi-truck driver, as well as a couple new photos of the accident scene.

Fire fighters at the scene of today's car/semi rollover collision had to cut the top off the car (a convertible) to remove its three occupants. / Photo courtesy Seattle Fire

UPDATE (4:41 PM): Seattle Parks and Recreation staff were nearby at the time of the accident and sprang into action (via a Seattle Parks and Recreation press release):

Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Northeast grounds maintenance crew members were working along Ravenna Blvd., mulching tree rings, when they heard screeching metal and a crash.

Jon Campbell, Dale McLeod and Marvin Bentley ran to the end of the island they were working on and looked up at the on ramp (NE 65th St. southbound entrance to I-5) and saw a semi truck overturned on its side.

Campbell and McLeod asked colleague Andy Rasmussen to call 911. Bentley blocked the entrance to the freeway with his truck and began directing traffic away from the accident. Campbell grabbed a fire extinguisher in case of fire (none occurred).

Read the rest of their story here.

UPDATE (5:02 PM): My Green Lake has been collecting photos and reactions from eye witnesses at or passing by the scene.

Filed Under: 911, Green Lake, Photos, Roosevelt, Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Updates

Eckstein Bikes, 35th Ave NE planning – Ravenna Blog Sunday Edition

February 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Bryant, Eckstein Middle School, Green Lake, Meeting, Ravenna, Seattle Fire Department, Sunday Edition, University District, University of Washington, Wedgwood Community Council

Overnight fire at Italian eatery Cafe Da Pino (UPDATES)

February 10, 2012 by 3 Comments

Seattle Fire Department units responded to a call at Cafe Da Pino (2207 NE 65th St) just after 2 AM.

Details are few at this time, but KING 5 News’ overnight photographer, James S, said (via Twitter) that there was a small fire in the wall, and that no flames were visible outside the restaurant.

The building the small Italian eatery is located in also contains Vitality Pilates and Thrive Art School.

We will have more details about the fire and damage later in the morning, and will post updates here.

UPDATE (9:31 AM): Picture of the building taken at 8:30 AM shows minimal damage to the exterior of the building. Vitality Pilates at the west end of the building (out of the picture) appeared to be open.

Picture of building that houses Cafe Da Pino, taken the morning after the fire.

UPDATE (10:17 AM): We have details now about the fire from the Seattle Fire Department’s Kyle Moore.

Someone driving by around 2 AM called 911 after seeing flames coming from a wall of the restaurant. After forcibly entering the building, fire fighters encountered lots of smoke, but no flames or heat. They determined the cause was faulty knob and tube wiring in a wall, which had been smoldering for some time. The fire was cut out of the wall. There were no injuries, and the damage is estimated at $20,000 (primarily smoke damage).

UPDATE (12:29 PM): Q13 FOX has story up about the Cafe Da Pino fire, which includes a picture of where fire fighters had to forcibly enter the restaurant (the east side of the building).

UPDATE (3:14 PM): The Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Line site has some photos of this morning’s action.

Click the photo above to read "Electrical Wiring caused Fire at Ravenna Italian Restaurant" on Fire Line

Filed Under: 911, Ravenna, Restaurants, Seattle Fire Department, Updates Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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