Seattle police searching for more suspects in double murder



SEATTLE -- Seattle police said Wednesday they are seeking additional suspects in a double murder early Sunday morning in the Leschi neighborhood.

Two men, ages 23 and 27, were killed in the 500 block of 29th Avenue South. Police said one of the victims was a Somali and the other was an African American.

Witnesses reported seeing a black or silver vehicle fleeing the area.

Police said they don't know the motive for the killings. The slayings were not gang-related and neither of the victims had a criminal history, nor were they suspected of any wrongdoing. Authorities said one of the men was gay, but they do not know if it was a hate crime.

Seattle police said Wednesday they are searching for more suspects in a double murder case. (Photo: KCPQ-TV)



Matalepuna Malu, 29, turned himself into police later on Sunday after being initially connected to the killings.

Malu remains in custody and is being held in connection with an unrelated assault case. Police are still investigating Malu for the murder, but they said Wednesday they were searching for additional suspects.

If you have any information about this case, please contact detectives at 206-233-5000.

Mayor Ed Murray tasked the city with improving lighting and trimming overgrowth on the street following the murders.

Tuesday afternoon, police located an apparently abandoned Mitsubishi Galant on Wabash Avenue and S. Cloverdale Street. The Seattle police said officers quickly realized the car belonged to one of the young men killed in the shooting at 29th Avenue and King Street. Police had been working to locate the victim’s car.

Officers had the car towed to the SPD Evidence facility, where Crime Scene Investigators processed the vehicle.

Detectives are investigating how the car ended up in South Seattle, and are still working to identify additional suspects.