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Deputy Chief Jeffrey Hardin (right) provided a detailed update of gun violence in Renton to the Public Safety Committee. Commander Ryan Rutledge (left) looks on.
Deputy Chief Jeffrey Hardin provided a detailed update on gun violence in Renton to the Public Safety Committee on Monday, Feb 27. Committee members and the public listened in rapt attention to the sobering statistics, tragic crime details, and thorough response by Renton police. His report speaks for itself, driving home the importance of our professional and capable police department and the challenging times we are facing. Here is Deputy Chief Hardin’s report:
Public Safety Committee 2/27/23
Update on gun violence in the city.
In 2022 there were 42 Threats with a firearm (20% increase), 69 Armed Robberies (50% increase), and 14 Armed car jackings (70% increase).
There was also a 34% increase of shots fired from 2021. This includes, homicides, shots fired with a subject injured, shots fired with property damage, and illegal discharges.
In 2022, we had seven homicides all involving a firearm. Of those, three are in custody, one committed suicide at the time of crime, the fourth is close to being charged (waiting for lab results) and the fifth has been identified (waiting for witness confirmation for probable cause). Of the remaining homicides, one is still being actively investigated and the other has been moved to cold case status due to lack of evidence and cooperating witnesses and victims (shooting at musician’s hall).
- • 2000 Benson Rd S – 14 yoa (year of age) suspect laid in wait for the victim and shot him as he was exiting the mini-mart (suspect apprehended and still in jail for this homicide as well as a homicide committed in 2021).
- • Cheers, 201 Williams Ave S – a verbal altercation that started inside the bar between three men and the victim was lured outside where he was shot and killed (two suspects currently in custody)
- • Musicians Hall, 126 Logan Ave S – Large Samoan gathering with over 150 party goers. Argument spilled into the parking lot and a gunfight ensued. Resulting in over 96 rounds fired from 9 different types of guns. There was a total of 11 gunshot wound victims, 8 of which remained at the scene. Two of those victims suffered life threatening injuries and were provided with trauma care by responding officers. Unfortunately, despite those efforts one of those victims succumbed to his injuries at the scene. This case has gone cold because of lack of evidence and witness and or victim cooperation.
- • 919 Houser Ave N – Suspect laid in wait and ambushed the victim after securing his boat at the location. This homicide is believed to be retaliation for the homicide at Cheers. (We are still actively investigating this case).
- • 321 Wells Ave N – Suspect shot the victim inside of a residence that was under eviction process due to know drug activity and other incidents on location. (Close to charging a suspect in this case and are just waiting for lab results to seal up probable cause.)
- • 330 SW Sunset Blvd – Involved an altercation/physical fight between two subjects with several people watching them. The fight escalated and one of the two subjects pulled out a gun and shot and killed the other. (We believe we have a suspect identified and are just working with a few witnesses to finalize probable cause.)
- • 900 N 10th Pl – Involved two subjects believe to be independently, romantically involved with another. The suspect followed the victim while walking to work at Boeing and shot the victim and then committed suicide by shooting himself.
In 2023, we have had one homicide involving a firearm and the suspect has been apprehended and charged with 1 count of murder 1st degree, 2 counts of Assault 1st degree (which will be amended to murder 1st degree because of the death of one of the victims after original charges). Currently being held on 3-million-dollar bail.
This specific case started at the downtown Safeway, 200 S 3rd St where he shoved an elderly African American male to the ground. He then drove a short distance to the area of Rainier Ave S/S Tobin St where he sees an African American Male getting into his vehicle after shopping at the Halal market. The suspect shoots multiple rounds at the victim striking him several times and later succumbed to his wounds. The suspect then drove to the Kia dealership on SW Grady Way and finds an African American male just outside his vehicle. The suspect fired multiple rounds at the victim, striking him 4 times. The suspect fled the city west to SeaTac, where he shoots a third male and fled southbound. This victim later succumbed to his injuries. A multi-jurisdiction bolo went out and a KCSO deputy sees the suspect vehicle and follows south on I-5 and when he had enough
supporting units a stop was conducted on the suspect near Tacoma and he was taken into custody without incident.
During an interview the suspect, an African American male spoke of his hatred for Africans, but even with that the King County prosecutor’s office determined the language was not specific enough and would not file it as a hate crime
Note: This report was provided following a report on police staffing by Chief Jon Schultd available here
Thanks to Deputy Chief Jeffrey Hardin for providing this information. Crime statistics do show an increase in gun violence in Renton this past year, while our police staffing isn’t increasing at the same rate. Reading this, it does fill in some holes for the various homicides in 2022, i.e., the Houser Way shooting was retaliation for the Cheers shooting. I’m very thankful for our well-trained police. We need to increase staffing as the crime continues to escalate and the population grows. Quite a challenge.
Cheers has ben a thorn in Renton for quite some time. It needs to go, and the City should play dirty. Get them on every infraction they can.
When is “Professor” Rivera goona swing by and give us idiots and education?
Thinking about this current police staffing concern along with rising crime, it occurred to me that both Randy and I had the same reaction at the meeting: “We need more police and that takes a long time with a lot of money”.
Randy & I went through the Benson/Cascade Annexation which took effect March 1, 2008. In the months leading up to adding a new population of 30,000+ and miles and acres of land to be responsible for, hiring new police officers was in high gear. Public Safety (or lack of) was a priority concern for the Cascade/Benson residents and businesses throughout the annexation process. If I remember correctly, we got some money, for various things, from King County, along with the Lindbergh Pool, Cascade Park, and others. Renton’s population went from 50,000-something to over 80,000 overnight! And our Police Department was ready at midnight, March 1, 2008. Council was so pleased and proud of the smooth transition after such long, intense planning. But…the City had agreements with King County, and some state funding, that brought money that allowed the annexation to move forward.
Today, as we look at the need for additional police officers, where does that kind of funding come from? Our City is run pretty lean, especially since the Human Services budget has greatly increased, which was and is needed. Crime and public safety are top priorities and concerns for a majority of Renton folks. I’m very glad we are paying attention early this year to our City Council’s agenda items that affect us all, now and in the upcoming years. Thanks Randy, for your timely reporting.
Who would want to be a cop when the WOKE Democratic party has put a target on their back. I don’t understand the stupidity of Hasegawa. I hope that the folks in his district vote him out of office if he does not retire, he will not get my vote.