After 3 murders in 48 hours, Federal Way police chief tells residents to stay indoors after dark

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- Three fatal shootings in just 48 hours has Federal Way Police beefing up patrols and warning residents to be on alert.

Federal Way Police Chief Andy Hwang told city residents during a press conference Wednesday to stay indoors at night until officers make arrests.

Police have not identified any suspects in the three shootings, saying that only one may be drug-related.

Federal Way normally sees three to four homicides in an entire year, so news of three murders since Monday morning has put residents on edge.

“That could have been any one of my kids,” said  Annette Carter, who lives near the most recent shooting.

Carter said she is worried for her family’s safety.

“I want to be able to sit in my garage, listen to music if I want to, and not worry about somebody rolling up in here trying to shoot everybody,” she said.

Tuesday night’s fatal shooting was the latest in a string of gun violence in Federal Way.

At 1 a.m. Monday,  26-year-old Alex Kelley was shot and killed while he smoked on a front porch on Campus Drive.

Then just after midnight on Tuesday, police found 27-year-old Frank Cohens Jr. slumped over in his car on 333rd Street; he, too, was shot to death.

Late Tuesday night, police found a 30-year-old man shot to death on 356th Street; police said he had been walking his dog. That victim has yet to be identified by the King County medical examiner.

“We are going to put all our resources, prioritize, this is it,” said Hwang. “We’re not dealing with any issue bigger than this right now in Federal Way.”

The violence has led city officials to make a bold request of citizens.

“Avoid going out on foot late at night, especially in a secluded area such as trails,” added Hwang.

The warning and the violence have neighbors uneasy and hopeful police find a break in the cases soon.

“I’m thinking, wow, we just moved here,” said Stephn McNeal. “I didn’t expect that in Federal Way."

“I’ll just have to be a little more cautious,” said Carter. “I never thought I’d have to be like that living out here.”

Police are telling people in Federal Way to call 911 if they see anything suspicious.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the city’s website.

The Federal Way City Council plans to hold a meeting Thursday to address the spike in gun violence.